In the lead-up to the midterm elections, President Donald Trump has drawn attention for his unusual habit of commenting on the physical appearances of male political figures and others during campaign events and speeches. Rather than focusing solely on typical political themes such as policy or economic issues, Mr. Trump has frequently used his platform to praise or critique men based on their looks, a tendency that has surfaced repeatedly in rallies and public appearances over the past several months.
At a rally in Highland Heights, Kentucky, on Saturday, Mr. Trump praised Ed Gallrein, the Republican candidate for the House who recently defeated Representative Thomas Massie in a primary. Mr. Trump described Gallrein as looking like he came “straight from central casting” and called him a “beautiful guy.” The president also lavished attention on Ohio Senator Jon Husted, highlighting his physique and specifically mentioning features such as Husted’s shoulders, jawline, and feet during a joint campaign event. Mr. Trump claimed that his remarks had boosted Husted’s polling numbers, a statement that is not supported by independent data.
Similar comments emerged during a rally in Dalton, Georgia, where Mr. Trump contrasted Senator Jon Ossoff, a Democrat, unfavorably with his Republican challenger, Representative Mike Collins, whom he described as “a good-looking man” and “all man.” He drew a disparaging comparison of Ossoff to the comic character Pee-wee Herman and also praised Rick Jackson, the Republican nominee for Georgia governor, as “handsome” and “distinguished.” During the same event, the president complimented the appearance of military personnel, remarking on the soldiers’ physical attributes and noting that they looked like they came from “central casting.”
Mr. Trump’s assessments have extended to his political allies as well. At a midterm convention in Dallas last month, he acknowledged disapproving of the appearance of Texas Republican Senate candidate Ken Paxton, saying advisers warned him against making such comments but that he felt compelled to express his view. Despite calling Paxton “not the best-looking guy” and criticizing his style, Mr. Trump emphasized Paxton’s professional capabilities, labeling him “the greatest attorney-general in America” and urging support from his base.
The president has also remarked on the appearances of individuals outside politics. In May, during a campaign event in Suffern, New York, Mr. Trump compared the looks of New York Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart, who introduced him, with those of Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, favoring Dart’s appearance. Following Dart’s injury later that month, Mr. Trump expressed hope for a quick recovery and reiterated praise for the athlete’s looks and talent.
At the U.S. Coast Guard Academy commencement in May, Mr. Trump invited the top academic graduate to the stage and made remarks about his physical fitness, emphasizing the graduate’s muscular build and joking about his own feelings toward “good-looking men.” These comments drew noticeable attention from the audience.
Mr. Trump’s frequent and personal remarks about men’s physical appearances represent a departure from traditional political rhetoric and have become a notable feature of his campaign style as he seeks to galvanize support ahead of the election.