Donald Trump and Usha Vance / YouTube/ Storytime with the Second Lady

President Donald Trump joined second lady Usha Vance's storytime podcast to read a picture book, but frequently departed from the story to comment on former presidents, himself and the White House.

In the episode of "Storytime with the Second Lady," released on July 3, Trump read Presidents Play!, a children's book published by the White House Historical Association along with Usha in the Oval Office.

Also Read: JD Vance joins Usha Vance's storytime podcast

During the introduction, Trump described the Oval Office as "the most powerful piece of real estate probably in the world" and praised Vice President JD Vance, telling the second lady that her husband had been "a great vice president."

When Vance asked whether he has time to read for fun while serving as president, Trump replied that he mostly reads newspapers. "I usually read stories about myself," he said.

As he turned the pages of the book, Trump offered personal anecdotes and observations throughout the reading.

He described former President Lyndon B. Johnson as "a very tough cookie" and called Ronald Reagan "a high-quality person," adding that Reagan was "like your father was president." 

He later referred to John F. Kennedy as "the second most good-looking president," without identifying who he believed was first.

Trump also reflected on several other presidents featured in the book. He said Harry Truman enjoyed walking outside the White House and remarked that Washington had become "a very safe place." He described Franklin D. Roosevelt as "respected" and noted that presidential term limits were adopted after Roosevelt served four terms. 

Discussing Dwight D. Eisenhower, Trump said he was "a much better president than he was given credit for," praising his military leadership and the interstate highway system.

Looking at a page on Richard Nixon, Trump remarked that the former president "got himself into trouble, I guess," referring to the scandal that led to Nixon's resignation. He also joked that Herbert Hoover's game of Hoover Ball "worked out better for him than the economy," referencing the Great Depression.

Trump revisited his criticism of former President Barack Obama, referring to him as "Barack Hussein Obama" while questioning his basketball ability. "I tend to doubt it," Trump said, adding that although Obama's favorite sport is golf, "he won't be in the Masters anytime soon."

He struck a friendlier tone when discussing Bill Clinton, saying he did not see himself using the jogging track Clinton installed at the White House but adding, "I like Bill Clinton a lot. I still do."

Seeing an illustration of Abraham Lincoln riding a horse, Trump said he would like to ride horses but worried about falling off, suggesting he might instead choose "a nice old horse that's extremely slow, lazy." 

When the book showed John Quincy Adams swimming in Tiber Creek, Trump used the opportunity to promote the ballroom under construction on the White House grounds, saying, "I think we're building a beautiful ballroom on top of it."

Trump also commented on Theodore Roosevelt, calling him "a real athlete" who loved the outdoors, and said Jimmy Carter enjoyed tennis but "had a hard time as president." Speaking about Grover Cleveland, Trump noted that, like himself, Cleveland served two nonconsecutive terms, adding that the arrangement "gave us much greater strength."

The president highlighted White House traditions as well, noting that his administration has welcomed championship teams from professional sports leagues. "We've had them all," Trump said, mentioning Super Bowl champions, World Series winners and other title-winning teams.

Several pages prompted Trump to joke about his own appearance. Looking at an illustration of Gerald Ford swimming, he said, "I don't know if I look good in a bathing suit. I haven't had a bathing suit in a long time." 

Discussing William Howard Taft, widely regarded as the nation's heaviest president, Trump added, "I have to be careful because I don't want to supersede his record," before advising viewers, "For all of you out there watching, keep yourself in good shape."

Near the end of the reading, Trump suggested inviting former presidents, including Barack Obama, Joe Biden and members of the Bush family, to watch a football game together. "The press would go wild," he said, calling it "a nice story."

Asked why children should celebrate Independence Day, Trump said, "We have a great country. We have a country that is on a little bit of a ledge right now. It can go one way or another... But we're going to make it go the other. And we're going to make America greater than ever before."

Trump also called the Fourth of July "a fantastic day" and noted that this year's celebrations coincide with the nation's 250th anniversary. 

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