Trump reads a children’s book on second lady Usha Vance’s podcast, then riffs on past presidents and himself
PBS News Hour – Politics — 2026-07-03 12:17:00 — www.pbs.org
Trump Offers Running Commentary and Jabs on Children’s Podcast Appearance
President Donald Trump, known for his unscripted remarks, appeared on second lady Usha Vance’s “Storytime with the Second Lady” podcast, where he read a children’s book about presidents and offered a series of off-the-cuff comments about his predecessors, his own habits, and his time in the White House.
Trump’s Remarks on Past Presidents
During the podcast, Trump made several observations about former presidents. He described Lyndon Johnson as a “tough cookie,” Ronald Reagan as a “high-quality person,” and John F. Kennedy as “the second-most good-looking president,” leaving the audience to guess who he considered the most attractive. When discussing Richard Nixon, Trump said Nixon “got himself into trouble, I guess,” referencing the Watergate scandal.
Trump also took a jab at Herbert Hoover, who was depicted in the book playing “Hoover Ball.” Trump quipped, “That worked out better for him than the economy,” referencing the Great Depression.
Dismissive Comments About Obama
Trump, who has repeatedly targeted Barack Obama in the past, referred to him as “Barack Hussein Obama” and questioned his basketball skills, saying he doubted Obama was a good player. Trump then claimed Obama’s favorite sport is golf but added, “He won’t be in the Master’s anytime soon.”
Personal Reflections and Exaggerations
When asked if he has time to read for fun, Trump replied, “I usually read stories about myself,” suggesting his media consumption is focused on his own coverage. He also plugged a “beautiful ballroom” he is building on the White House grounds and joked about his own physique in comparison to William Howard Taft, saying, “I have to be careful because I don’t want to supersede his record,” referring to Taft’s status as the heaviest president.
Vague Message to Children
When prompted for advice to children about celebrating the country on July 4th, Trump offered a cloudy message: “We have a great country. We have a country that, it’s on a little bit of a ledge right now. It can go one way or another, you understand that. But we’re going to make it go the other. And we’re going to make America greater than ever before.”
Conclusion
Trump’s appearance on the podcast was marked by his trademark asides, personal boasts, and disparaging remarks about others, particularly Barack Obama. His comments, often veering into exaggeration or personal attacks, continue a pattern of using public appearances to promote his own image and criticize rivals, even in settings intended for children.