President Donald Trump joined second lady Usha Vance for a special edition of “Storytime with the Second Lady” on Thursday and read about the favorite pastimes of America’s presidents.
Trump, sitting beside Usha Vance in the Oval Office, stayed true to his comic nature as he read from the book “Presidents Play!” by author Jonathan Pliska and illustrator John Hutton.
“With so much going on in the world, it’s really kind of you to take a moment to read,” the second lady said. “And I know that you have 11 grandkids, so hopefully some of them will tune in and watch you read as well.”
“Well I’ll make sure they will,” Trump replied. “I’ll make it mandatory. That won’t mean anything. That means they still won’t do it, but I’ll make it mandatory.”
Trump went on to read “Presidents Play!” — which colorfully dives into the favorite playtime activities of former presidents. During his reading, Trump took a couple shots at President Barack Obama’s basketball and golf games.
“I don’t know if he was a good basketball player. I tend to doubt it,” Trump said. “Actually, his favorite sport is golf, but he won’t be in the Masters anytime soon.”
The book begins with describing the activities of Presidents Lyndon B. Johnson and Ronald Reagan.
“I think the presidents all work hard, but sometimes they take a break to have fun and exercise like Ronald Reagan. He was in very good shape,” Trump said. “Lyndon Johnson wasn’t in shape, but he was a very tough cookie, a real great politician.”
The book then describes how President Bill Clinton had a track built on White House property so he could keep up his running habit.
“I don’t think I’ll ever do that,” Trump commented. “I don’t see myself doing that. I don’t know. But he actually was a nice guy. I like Bill Clinton a lot, still do.”
President Abraham Lincoln, the book explains, often rode horses around the White House.
“And that’s great. I’d like to ride horses too,” Trump said. “In fact, it gives me an idea, but when you fall off a horse, I’ve seen too many bad things happen. Falling off a horse is not good. So we’ll get a nice old horse that’s extremely slow, lazy and maybe ride it.”
On President Gerald Ford’s love for swimming in the White House’s outdoor pool, President Trump said, “I don’t know if I’d look good in a bathing suit. I haven’t had a bathing suit in a long time.”
The book also shows President William Howard Taft throwing out the first pitch at a baseball game, but Trump couldn’t help but mention Taft’s weight. The former president, who also served on the Supreme Court, weighed over 350 pounds.
“He was a large man, very large, and he loved baseball. He would go to baseball games, loved the hot dogs at the baseball games,” Trump said. “He was our heaviest president, and I have to be careful because I don’t want to supersede his record. And a thing like that would be possible if I allowed it to happen.”
“For all of you out there watching, keep yourself in good shape,” he added.
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