Trump Offers Unfiltered Presidential History on Children’s Podcast

The appearance, filmed in the Oval Office last June, featured Trump reading "Presidents Play!" to an audience of children. Surrounded by gold accents and a Lego globe, the president used the book’s illustrations of historical figures at leisure to offer running commentary on those who held the office before him. He labeled Lyndon Johnson a "tough cookie," praised Ronald Reagan as a "high-quality person," and ranked John F. Kennedy as the second-most handsome president while keeping his own top pick to himself.

Trump’s commentary often veered into his signature irreverence. He quipped that Herbert Hoover’s self-invented game of "Hoover Ball" likely worked out better for him than the economy, and he openly doubted Barack Obama’s basketball prowess, noting that the former president’s true sport is golf. When the book depicted Bill Clinton on the White House jogging track, Trump remarked, "I don't think I'll ever do that," though he added that he likes Clinton "a lot."

Beyond history, the session turned toward Trump’s own physical habits and the state of the nation. Reflecting on William Howard Taft’s size, he joked about the need to keep his own weight in check. He also addressed the country’s current trajectory, telling young viewers that the nation is resting "on a little bit of a ledge." Despite the uncertainty, he promised to "make America greater than ever before," ending the reading with a blend of political posturing and advice on physical fitness.