Daniel Wolfram
Trump is tired of talking about inflation. He would rather rate the jawlines, muscles, and physiques of allies and politcal rivals.
President Donald Trump is known for ignoring the teleprompter during his speeches and going on wild rants with no apparent rhyme or reason.
That is a big part of why he has been able to be elected president twice.
But lately, during the critical stretch of Trump trying to salvage the midterm elections for the Republican Party, he has been turning his attention to male physiques. And he cannot stop complimenting them.
‘Central casting’
Rather than focusing on the issues that the American people are having at the moment with high inflation and increased gas prices, Trump has repeatedly used his time during his speeches to evaluate the physical appearance of other men. It is an unexpected topic that keeps reappearing.
On the campaign trail, the president often leans on a familiar showbiz metaphor to signal approval. While stumping in Kentucky for congressional hopeful Ed Gallrein, Trump declared that the candidate looked straight out of “central casting,” meaning that Gallrein looks like the stereotypical guy Trump would see on TV, on billboards, and at the cinema growing up.
He fondly recalled their first meeting, saying, “Look at this beautiful guy,” according to The New York Times.
His visual appraisals also turn surprisingly detailed. Speaking about Ohio politician Jon Husted, Trump described how he checked out the former college football player from head to toe, studying his build, hands, and shoulders. “I never did that with a man before,” Trump told the crowd. “He’s got a jawline.”
‘I want to check him out’
Commenting on men’s bodies does not always carry a positive sentiment. At a rally in Georgia, Trump spent several minutes contrasting the looks of Democratic Senator Jon Ossoff with Republican candidate Mike Collins. He dismissed Ossoff by comparing him to the television character Pee-wee Herman, while praising his opponent as a “distinguished, beautiful-looking guy.”
The fascination with male bodies follows Trump into military ceremonies as well. While addressing graduates at the Coast Guard Academy, he admitted he wanted to check out the school’s top athlete in person.
Trump invited him onto the stage while saying, “Get up here, please. I want to see. I want to check him out.” As the young cadet walked toward the stage, Trump shouted, “Look at the muscles on this guy.”
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‘I’ll take Jaxson any day’
Perhaps the biggest victim of Trump’s constant search for male beauty is a candidate who is in danger of losing a Senate seat to a Democrat for the first time since 1994.
At several speeches, Trump has taken veiled shots at Texas Senate candidate Ken Paxton, telling the crowds that “he may not be the best-looking guy I’ve ever seen.” Trump also regularly admits that his advisers plead with him to stop calling Paxton ugly, but to Trump, it is very important how a candidate looks.
Trump’s constant search for handsome men who support him always boomerangs back on his own cabinet members, whom he considers insufficiently attractive.
Before the summer, Trump spoke at a rally in New York. Here, he was introduced by the starting quarterback of the New York Football Giants, Jaxson Dart. Trump could not stop complimenting his looks. “Jaxson Dart, who’s a great talent, a handsome guy, very handsome guy, and he loved Trump,” he said.
Dart embodies the classic stereotype for a quarterback, 6 feet 2 inches with long blond hair — essentially Trump’s dream man. The problem was that he was standing next to Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick during the speech. That is where the balding, middle-aged Lutnick got hit with a brutal ricochet shot by Trump.
Trump said Lutnick looked “reasonable,” while adding, “He doesn’t look like Jaxson. I’d rather look like Jaxson. I’ll take Jaxson any day.”
Trump is scheduled to speak tonight at a rally in Kansas. Hopefully for him, there is a handsome man he can compliment.
