Storytime with the Second Lady

President Donald Trump recently appeared alongside Second Lady Usha Vance for a unique episode of her podcast, where he read a children’s book and shared his usual humorous insights regarding the hobbies of previous U.S. presidents.

The show, titled “Storytime with the Second Lady,” was shot in the Oval Office, featuring the duo reading “Presidents Play,” a work from the White House Historical Society.

Vance began the episode by inquiring if any of Trump’s 11 grandchildren would tune in. Trump joked about wanting to make it “mandatory” for them to watch.

“That won’t mean anything—that means they still won’t do it, but I’ll make it mandatory,” he chuckled.

The discussion took a slight turn toward local politics when Trump, prompted by an image of Harry Truman, praised Vice President JD Vance, mentioning how Washington D.C. has become significantly safer with his contributions.

As they turned the pages of the book, Trump shared his thoughts on various past presidents.

• Lyndon B. Johnson & Ronald Reagan: Trump remarked on the differences between the two leaders, noting that although Johnson wasn’t as physically strong as Reagan, he was still a “tough cookie.” He referred to Reagan as a “high-quality person” admired by many.

• Bill Clinton: When an illustration of Clinton jogging appeared, Trump admitted he had only recently realized there was a jogging track on the White House grounds. “I don’t think I’ll ever do that. I don’t see myself doing that,” he said, but added, “But he actually was a nice guy. I like Bill Clinton a lot. I still do.”

• Abraham Lincoln: Seeing Lincoln on horseback, Trump expressed a desire to try riding as well, but he showed some hesitation: “In fact, it gives me an idea, but when you fall off a horse, I’ve seen too many bad things happen.”

• Barack Obama: Trump noted Obama’s background in basketball, humorously questioning his skills and suggesting that golf was truly more of his specialty, adding, “But he won’t be in the Masters anytime soon.”

• William Howard Taft: With a comment on Taft’s notable size, Trump joked about his own fitness journey, stating, “He was our heaviest president, and I have to be careful, because I don’t want to supersede his record.”

• Franklin D. Roosevelt & Gerald Ford: Discussing FDR, Trump shared that the current press briefing room was once an indoor pool, before mentioning Ford’s outdoor pool and saying, “I don’t get to use it. I don’t know if I look good in a bathing suit. I haven’t had a bathing suit in a long time.”

• John F. Kennedy: Trump had positive things to say about JFK, even dubbing him the “second-most-good looking president,” playfully leaving out who might hold the top spot.

Overall, the episode combined lighthearted storytelling with a mix of reflections on the past, gift-wrapping the history of American presidents in a way that’s accessible to younger audiences and perhaps even enlightening to their families.