Trump reads a children's book on second lady Usha Vance's podcast, then riffs on past presidents and himself

By — Michelle L. Price, Associated Press Michelle L. Price, Associated Press Leave your feedback Share Copy URL https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/trump-reads-a-childrens-book-on-second-lady-usha-vances-podcast-then-riffs-on-past-presidents-and-himself Email Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Tumblr Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Trump reads a children's book on second lady Usha Vance's podcast, then riffs on past presidents and himself Politics Jul 3, 2026 1:17 PM EDT WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump joined second lady Usha Vance on her podcast where guests read picture books to children, but Trump, who is notorious for veering off script, offered a running commentary on his predecessors, his physique, and how he's spending his time in the White House. In Trump's appearance on Vance's "Storytime with the Second Lady," podcast, which was posted online Friday, the president read "Presidents Play!" a children's book from the White House Historical Association that features illustrations of the presidents enjoying sports and using the White House and its grounds for recreation. Trump pre-taped the appearance in mid-June in the White House's Oval Office, where the abundant gold accents he added were supplemented for the occasion with a bald eagle stuffed animal, tables made up of stacks of oversized books and a globe made out of Legos. When Vance asked Trump if he has much time to read for fun while serving as president, he replied that he ends up mostly reading newspapers. "I usually read stories about myself," Trump said. As Trump turned through the children's book, he made observations about past presidents, cracked some jokes, and threw in a plug for the extensive ballroom he's building on the White House grounds. He described Lyndon Johnson as a "tough cookie," Ronald Reagan as a "high-quality person" and "like your father was president," and John F. Kennedy as "the second-most good-looking president." Left unsaid was who Trump felt was the best-looking president. Richard Nixon, the only president to resign the office after he became embroiled in the Watergate scandal, "got himself into trouble, I guess." Herbert Hoover, who was president during the Great Depression, was depicted in the book playing a game he made up called "Hoover Ball." Educate your inbox Subscribe to Here’s the Deal, our politics newsletter for analysis you won’t find anywhere else. "That worked out better for him than the economy," Trump quipped. Barack Obama, who has been a longtime object of Trump's derision, was illustrated playing basketball. Trump, calling him "Barack Hussein Obama," said he doubted Obama was a good basketball player. He then shared that Obama's favorite sport is golf, but added, "He won't be in the Master's anytime soon." When he reached a page with a drawing of Bill Clinton running on the jogging track the former president installed at the White House, Trump remarked, "I don't think I'll ever do that." But he added that he likes Clinto