Former President Donald Trump boasted that he has a “much better body” than President Joe Biden. Trump added that he could take Biden in a fight.
“He’s got a consultant somewhere – this is the worst consultant in politics – that thinks he looks good in a bathing suit, right? He spends so much time at the beach. I mean, how do you do that?” Trump said at an Iowa rally. “And, you know, I have a much better body than him. But I’m not really sure that I want to expose it, with the sun blaring down and the sand, the surf, the wind you know. I mean, you know, it’s not a pretty sight.”
Trump was referring to Biden’s tendency to take beach getaways in Delaware, where he is often photographed in his swimsuit. The comments were very much on-brand for Trump. Let’s dissect.
Unpresidential, headline grabbing, hilarious
Trump’s comments were not consistent with what most people expect from a former and aspiring President of the United States. Comparing bodies, disparaging an opponent’s physique – it’s not the most dignified tact to take into a general election.
But the comments accomplish what Trump intended for the comments to accomplish, which is generate press coverage, and inspire his base. The comments made news, as the article you are currently reading demonstrates, which is the purpose of nearly everything that comes out of Trump’s mouth.
And why not? It’s working for him.
Trump also has a talent for crafting nearly every word out of his mouth in a way that confirms his brand, as a brash, irreverent outsider bent on shaking down the establishment, to his base supporters. Declaring the president’s body inferior to Trump’s own is confirming to Trump’s base that Trump is indeed their irreverent, brash, status quo-buster.
Now, I don’t condone Trump’s body shaming, nor do I appreciate that Trump has introduced physique comparisons into the modern political discourse – but I am comfortable saying that Trump is funny.
Here, and consistently elsewhere.
Pete Davidson said something similar a few years ago on SNL, Trump is genuinely hilarious. Not by the standard of a comedian, but certainly by the standard of a politician.
So, while the part of me that follows politics and likes Franklin Delano Roosevelt is not impressed with Trump’s humor, the part of me that follows comedy and likes George Carlin and Dave Chapelle appreciates a guy getting on stage and calling out his opponent’s beach bod.
However, it must be said, Trump is by definition obese. Biden, meanwhile has maintained a relative trimness past his eightieth birthday. So, I’m not positive I can give Trump credit for having a better body than his opponent.
Fight forecast
Trump also claimed that he would take Biden in a fight. Here, I am willing to credit Trump’s claim as truthful. Trump is perhaps three inches taller than Biden and significantly, significantly heavier. More importantly, Trump has the edge in youth and vigor. Biden just doesn’t seem well equipped for hand to hand combat lately. My money is on Trump.
Harrison Kass is the Senior Editor and opinion writer at 19FortyFive. An attorney, pilot, guitarist, and minor pro hockey player, Harrison joined the US Air Force as a Pilot Trainee but was medically discharged. Harrison holds a BA from Lake Forest College, a JD from the University of Oregon, and an MA from New York University. Harrison listens to Dokken.
