US President Donald Trump appeared on Second Lady Usha Vance's podcast to read the children's book "Presidents Play," while making off-the-cuff comments about several of his presidential predecessors.
The book "Presidents Play," published by the White House Historical Society, deals with how U.S. leaders spent their free time while in office.
While flipping through the pages of the book, Trump talked about the appearance of former presidents, their hobbies, and his opinion of their presidencies, often repeating the conversation to himself.
On John F. Kennedy: "He was handsome. They say he was the second most handsome president."
On Barack Obama: "Obama is a basketball player. I don't know if he's a good player, and I tend to doubt it. In fact, his favorite sport is golf... but he won't be participating in the Masters anytime soon."
On William Howard Taft: "He was our heaviest boss, and I have to be careful, because I don't want to break his record, and that's something that could happen if I let it happen. And to everyone watching, keep fit, got it?"
Regarding Gerald Ford, who built an outdoor swimming pool at the White House: "I can't use it. I don't know if I look good in a swimsuit. I haven't worn a swimsuit in a long time."
On Dwight Eisenhower, who added a short-shot golf practice area to the South Lawn of the White House: "I never used it, because I didn't want people to see me practicing golf in the White House. I wanted them to see me working hard in the White House."
On Bill Clinton adding a running track: "I don't think I'll ever do that. I don't see myself doing it. I don't know, but he was actually a nice guy. I admire Bill Clinton a lot, and I still do."
On Abraham Lincoln, who used to ride horses: "I would also like to ride a horse. In fact, it gives me an idea, but when you fall off a horse, I have seen many bad things happen."
Trump also linked some of the stories in the book to his own work as president.
In an interview with CNBC on Thursday, Trump said he had begun negotiations to end the war with Iran: "Because I don't want to be the president who oversees the Great Depression. That's what Herbert Hoover was like, and that was a terrible thing."
During the opening of the Teddy Roosevelt Presidential Library in North Dakota on Wednesday, Trump focused a large part of his speech on the Panama Canal, which began to be built during the 26th president's term.
During his tour of the library, Trump even interacted with a hologram of Teddy Roosevelt, saying he asked him: "What do you think of the Panama Canal? Do you consider it your greatest achievement? And how do you feel about the fact that the Democrats gave up the Panama Canal and handed it over to Panama for one dollar?"
The president later added: "We gave it up. It was the most expensive project we ever built, and it was also the most profitable project we ever made. How stupid was that?"
Trump also spent a significant portion of his second term searching for a tangible legacy to leave in Washington, D.C.
In addition to renovating the Rose Garden, installing signs outside the Oval Office, and building a ceremonial hall, Trump also plans to erect a massive triumphal arch near the entrance to Arlington National Cemetery in northern Virginia.
Usha Vance launched the children's podcast "Storytime with the Second Lady" to encourage reading. In it, she hosts guests to talk about the books they read and to read a children's book to the listeners.
When Trump was asked about his reading habits, he answered frankly: "I end up reading newspapers mostly. And I usually read stories about myself."
