Former President Trump joked about the weight of North Carolina Republican gubernatorial candidate Mark Robinson at a rally in North Carolina on Wednesday.
At the start of a speech to supporters in Asheboro, North Carolina, Trump stood onstage, turned to his left toward Robinson and said, “Thank goodness, Mark has lost a lot of weight over the last few months.”
“And that’s exactly what happened,” he continued.
The speech was the former president’s first outdoor campaign appearance since he was grazed by a bullet during an assassination attempt in Butler, Pennsylvania. The stage in North Carolina was lined with bulletproof glass and surrounded by storage containers.
“Trump spoke on a very small stage and made some casual comments after calling Mark and 30 security officers onto the small stage,” David Keltz, deputy communications director for Robinson’s campaign, said in a statement to The Hill.
Keltz said all 30 sheriffs supported Robinson early Wednesday morning.
Trump’s comments about Robinson’s weight came less than two weeks after he commented on Sen. Jon Tester (D-Mont.), saying “he’s got the biggest belly I’ve ever seen.”
Robinson campaign spokesman Mike Lonergan said in a statement to The Hill that the Republican gubernatorial candidate “has been working hard in the office, on the campaign trail and in the gym and appreciates President Trump’s compliment.”
Trump has also repeatedly mocked former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie (Republican) for his weight and eating habits.
“Christie, he’s eating right now,” Trump said in New Hampshire a little over a year ago. According to NBC News:“He just doesn’t care.”
Christie, who faces Trump in the 2024 Republican primary, criticised Trump’s comments about his weight, telling Fox News’ Howard Kurtz on “MediaBuzz”: “Oh man, he looks like Adonis.”
“Look, Howie, there are tens of millions of Americans watching this show right now who struggle with their weight just like me,” Christie added. “I continue to struggle with it. I continue to try to get better. So… what does that have to do with my fitness to hold office?”
During his civil fraud trial, Trump commented on his appearance in the courtroom.
“I need to lose some weight,” Trump said after viewing a portrait by one of the sketch artists, Isabel Brauman. According to Reuters.
The Hill has reached out to Robinson’s campaign for comment.
Updated at 8:33pm ET.
