Trump reads to children on Usha Vance's podcast and veers off script | AP News President Donald Trump joined second lady Usha Vance on her podcast, where guests read children’s books to young listeners, but the former president’s appearance quickly deviated from the scripted format. During the episode of Vance’s “Storytime with the Second Lady,” Trump read a picture book titled “Presidents Play!” from the White House Historical Association, which features illustrations of past presidents engaging in recreational activities. The segment, posted online on Friday, was recorded in mid-June in the Oval Office, where Trump’s usual decor was augmented with a bald eagle stuffed animal, oversized book-stacked tables, and a Lego globe. As Trump navigated the children’s book, he interjected with commentary on historical figures, personal anecdotes, and remarks about his own time in the White House. When Vance asked if he had much time to read for fun while in office, Trump replied that he mostly read newspapers, adding, “I usually read stories about myself.” The book’s pages prompted him to describe Lyndon Johnson as a “tough cookie,” Ronald Reagan as a “high-quality person” and “like your father was president,” and John F. Kennedy as “the second-most good-looking president.” He left unspoken who he considered the best-looking president. Trump’s remarks extended to Richard Nixon, whom he described as having “got himself into trouble” after the Watergate scandal. He also referenced Herbert Hoover, who played a game called “Hoover Ball” during the Great Depression, quipping, “That worked out better for him than the economy.” Barack Obama, a long-time target of Trump’s criticism, was depicted playing basketball in the book.#trump #usha_vance #white_house_historical_association #storytime_with_the_second_lady #oval_office
