President Donald Trump has sparked debate in the final stretch of the midterm campaign after repeatedly turning his rally speeches toward detailed evaluations of male politicians’ physical builds and appearance.
During recent campaign appearances across Georgia, Ohio and Kentucky, Trump has frequently paused policy discussions to comment on the musculature, facial features and general attractiveness of both allies and rivals, according to multiple news reports.
Commentary on Georgia candidates
At a midterm rally on Friday in Georgia, Trump spent time weighing in on the appearance of the state’s Senate contenders, Democratic incumbent Sen. Jon Ossoff and Republican challenger Rep. Mike Collins, HuffPost reported.
Trump repeated previous comparisons likening Ossoff to the late Paul Reubens’ comedic character Pee-wee Herman, explicitly rejecting praise others have offered the Democrat. “Someone said he’s a good-looking man,” Trump said, according to HuffPost. “I don’t think he’s a good-looking man.”
By contrast, Trump commended Collins, telling attendees that Collins was “a good-looking man” and “all man,” while questioning Ossoff. The president also offered compliments to Republican gubernatorial contender Rick Jackson, describing him as a “very handsome, distinguished, beautiful-looking guy.”
Returning to Collins later in the Georgia speech, Trump framed the lawmaker’s look as ideal for public office. “I’m casting a movie for a senator, I like the white hair,” Trump said, as reported by HuffPost. “I like the big strong build. Big strong guy. But that’s what I want.”
Focus on Husted’s athletic build
The remarks in Georgia follow a series of similar statements Trump made about Republican Sen. Jon Husted during events in Ohio and Kentucky. Columnist Pat Beall reported in the Sun Sentinel that Trump openly marveled at Husted’s facial structure at an Ohio appearance, telling the crowd to “look at that jawline.”
During that appearance, Trump acknowledged scrutinizing the senator’s physique after learning of his athletic background. “I don’t do this with men very often,” Trump said, according to the Sun Sentinel. “I started examining his body, because I didn’t know he was a great athlete … and I looked and I watched up and down and I looked at his ass.”
Trump revived the topic while campaigning for the Republican midterm ticket in Highland Heights, Kentucky, reiterating to supporters that he had studied Husted’s shoulders, jawline and backside to verify his athletic build, TMZ reported via Yahoo.
Democrats criticize rhetoric as distraction
The president’s unusual focus has provided fodder for Democrats campaigning across competitive battleground states. Former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg addressed Trump’s comments regarding Husted during a get-out-the-vote appearance Wednesday in Kalamazoo, Michigan, according to TMZ.
Buttigieg called Trump’s public fixation on Husted’s physical traits odd, arguing that dwelling on looks serves to redirect public attention away from substantive voter concerns, including fuel costs and lingering military conflict abroad. While joking that the discussion made him feel he should visit the gym more often, Buttigieg also took sharp aim at the cultivated image of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth during the interview, TMZ reported.
With early voting expanding across multiple states ahead of November, it remains uncertain whether Trump’s unconventional campaign rhetoric will resonate with undecided voters or further energize Democratic turnout.
