Republican Sen. Jon Husted is not at all offended by President Donald Trump’s admiration of his physique. In fact, Husted revealed to reporters Tuesday that he’s doing what he can to keep Trump’s eyes on him.
Husted, 59, addressed the president’s most recent comments about his “a–” to reporters. “The president is coming in tomorrow, again, to Ohio,” Husted said. “Third time in less than thirty days. He’ll be in Chillicothe. Don’t worry, I was in the weight room this morning working out. I don’t want to let him down.”
Husted is seeking re-election against Democratic Sen. Sherrod Brown. Trump has repeatedly commented on Husted’s physique, drawing controversy and raising questions about the president’s campaign rhetoric as the midterm elections approach next week.
“He was a great athlete,” Trump described Husted on Oct. 12, referencing Husted’s time as a defensive back in football during his collegiate years. “I don’t do this with men very often—I started examining his body because I didn’t know he was a great athlete,” he told the crowd. “And I looked, and I watched up and down, and I looked at this a–… and I looked at the whole… and then I looked at his hands—look at his hands, he’s got these, like, claws… and I got it, you are a great athlete.”
Over the weekend, Trump doubled down on how he feels about Husted. “I’ve never studied the body of a man before. It’s not my thing. Nothing wrong with it — of course,” Trump told the crowd, before reiterating that he had examined Husted’s backside and legs. Trump also boasted about Husted’s broad shoulders, claiming that when he tapped the senator, he hurt his own hand. “He’s like a piece of steel,” Trump said. “I said, ‘This guy’s a monster!’”
It is also not the first time Husted responded to Trump’s comments with appreciation. “When I woke up the next morning after hearing that, I told my wife, I’m like, ‘Hey, I think I got to get down to the gym and keep up my reputation! So, I gotta keep working out,’” Husted told Fox News’ Aishah Hasnie.
Husted brushed off Trump’s remark about his physique as nothing more than admiration. “We’re an athletic family. We try to stay in shape,” he said. “I had a great joy of playing college football, and my wife’s a marathon runner, and we’re just trying to be a healthy family.”