President Donald Trump, speaking at a rally in Youngstown, Ohio, on Monday, drew laughter from attendees after making a joke about examining Senator Jon Husted's physique. The comments came as President Trump campaigned for Husted and Republican gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy, highlighting Husted's past as a standout college football player. The event underscored President Trump's ongoing engagement in midterm elections, aiming to bolster Republican candidates across key states.
"I don't do this with men very often. I started examining his body. I looked at his ass, and I looked at the whole — look at his hands." President Donald Trump
President Trump stated he was surprised to learn of Senator Husted's athletic accomplishments, specifically his tenure as an All-American defensive back at the University of Dayton, where he played on the 1989 Division III championship team. Husted's collegiate career included playing on the school’s 1989 Division III championship team, a fact President Trump noted with apparent admiration. "I don’t do this with men very often," President Trump remarked to the crowd, setting a lighthearted tone. He explained that upon discovering Husted's athletic background, he began "examining" the senator, having not previously realized the extent of his athletic prowess. "And I looked and I watched up and down," President Trump told the assembled rally-goers. He continued, "I looked at his ass, and I looked at the whole —" The partial statement prompted significant laughter from the large crowd gathered for the rally. President Trump further pointed to Husted's hands, describing them as "claws," as additional evidence of his former football career, stating, "And I got it… you are a great athlete." He noted that Senator Husted rarely discusses his athletic achievements, which contributed to President Trump's surprise.
Senator Husted later joined President Trump on stage, where the playful banter continued. President Trump made another comment regarding Husted's physical resilience, saying, "I just hit him in the back and I hurt my hand a little bit. He’s like a piece of steel." This interaction further engaged the audience and added a memorable, informal element to the political event.
The rally in Youngstown was a strategic component of President Trump's broader efforts to support Republican candidates in Ohio ahead of the upcoming midterm elections. Ohio is considered a crucial battleground state, and securing its electoral support is vital for the Republican Party's national objectives. Senator Husted is currently in a competitive race against Democratic Senator Sherrod Brown, and President Trump's appearance was intended to galvanize the Republican base.
President Trump dedicated a significant portion of his speech to criticizing Senator Brown and the Democratic Party's broader platform, urging Ohio voters to maintain Republican control of the Senate seat. He characterized Senator Brown as aligned with what he termed "Marxists," "communists," and "anti-American radicals," painting a stark contrast between the two political ideologies. President Trump also attributed various national issues, including those related to immigration and the economy, to current Democratic leadership. He warned supporters about potential negative consequences for Ohio if Democrats were to gain more power or maintain their current influence, specifically stating, "If you want to stop Ohio from being plundered, ransacked and destroyed like Minnesota is being destroyed… vote for Jon Husted and vote for Vivek Ramaswamy." He also accused Democrats of wanting to "burn it all down," a strong rhetorical flourish aimed at rallying conservative voters.
The event featured several other prominent guests who spoke in support of the Republican ticket. Former NFL head coach Jon Gruden, an Ohio native and former college football teammate of Senator Husted, traveled with President Trump to Youngstown and introduced him at the event. Gruden's presence added a local, sports-related dimension to the rally. In his remarks, Gruden emphasized the importance of collective action and leadership, telling the crowd, "To maximize our true potential, we gotta believe in our leadership and we gotta do it together." Boxer and social media personality Jake Paul, who grew up in Cleveland, also attended the rally. Paul echoed some of the critical sentiments towards the Democratic Party, warning the audience that Democrats were running candidates he described as "evil" and asserting, "We have to protect this state." Senate Majority Whip John Barrasso, Senator Bernie Moreno, and Representative Max Miller were also present, further demonstrating the breadth of Republican support for the Ohio candidates. President Trump acknowledged Representative Miller during the event but did not invite him onto the stage.
While the rally served as a platform for political endorsements and criticisms, and featured a lineup of notable personalities, the most widely reported moment was President Trump's unusual and humorous description of Senator Husted's physique. What began as an anecdote about Husted's athletic background quickly evolved into a memorable, humorous exchange that garnered significant attention from the audience and media outlets covering the event, becoming a focal point of the rally's coverage.
