“I will not comment on his anatomy”: Ohio Republicans turn Trump’s physique obsession into a funny campaign joke
A day after President Donald Trump offered a highly detailed appraisal of Ohio Sen. Jon Husted’s muscular physique, the comments had already become a running joke at a GOP gathering in rural western Ohio. At the Darke County GOP hog roast, where about 300 people enjoyed pork barbecue, Husted laughed along with the crowd, joking about the president’s recent focus on his football background and physical assets.
Trump recently praised Husted’s body during a rally in northern Kentucky, saying, ‘I examined his ass, and then I looked at his shoulders. I looked at his feet. I looked at his hand. I looked at his jawline… I then patted him on the shoulder, and it was like a piece of steel. I’m still recovering.’ During an earlier event in Youngstown, Trump similarly talked about looking Husted ‘up and down,’ congratulating him on finally letting the public know about his athleticism. Husted, a former college football player who won a Division III national title with the University of Dayton in 1989, leaned on his sports history to rally Republicans for the tough election battle against Democrat Sherrod Brown.
Other local GOP figures used the moment to joke about Trump’s habit of commenting on people’s bodies. Ohio’s other GOP senator, Bernie Moreno, told the crowd, ‘Unlike the president of the United States, I will not comment on his anatomy, but I will tell you that he’s a really, really good senator, and I need him there as my partner.’ State Auditor Keith Faber, who is running for attorney general, also chimed in, saying that while Husted was a darn good athlete, he was an even better legislator.
Trump’s commentary on physical appearances isn’t limited to Ohio. During a Georgia rally, Trump criticized Democratic Sen. Jon Ossoff’s looks, calling him not a ‘good-looking man,’ while praising his Republican challenger, Mike Collins, as ‘all man.’ Trump has also playfully teased Texas GOP Senate nominee Ken Paxton, telling voters to look past his fashion choices, though he recently admitted Paxton looked ‘spiffy’ in a blue suit.
