President Donald Trump launched into a body-shaming attack on a reporter Thursday after being asked whether he canceled a planned Kansas rally because he was “sick of travel.”
Trump was returning from a campaign rally in South Carolina on Thursday afternoon and heading to the White House for Halloween celebrations with First Lady Melania Trump when reporters questioned him about the Kansas cancellation.
The president had been scheduled to travel to Salina, Kansas, on Saturday to support Republican Senator Roger Marshall, who is facing an unexpectedly competitive reelection campaign. Instead, Trump canceled the appearance and planned to hold tele-rallies from Mar-a-Lago. He also called off a scheduled rally in Dubuque, Iowa.
“Oh, you’re sick to ask that question. You are sick,” Trump told the Reuters reporter. He asked which outlet the journalist represented before calling him a “dope.”
Trump continued attacking the reporter’s appearance, saying, “Look at this guy. He’s way out of shape. Look at how badly …” He later added, “You are disgusting. Put yourself in shape. You look like hell.”
Trump then moved along the row of reporters, continuing to explain his decision to cancel the Kansas trip.
“He comes to me. ‘Sir, you’re not going to go to Kansas.’ I’m not going to Kansas because he’s doing very well. I’m going to do a tele-rally. Tomorrow I’m doing Florida. He said, ‘What’s the reason?’ After doing what? Twenty-eight. He says, ‘What’s the reason for this, sir, that you’re not going to Kansas?’” Trump said, recounting the exchange that had taken place moments earlier.
“You know what the reason is?” Trump asked. “I don’t feel like I have to go to Kansas.”
President Donald Trump body-shamed a reporter Thursday afternoon after the journalist asked whether he was skipping a planned Kansas rally because he was “sick of travel.”
President Donald Trump launched into a rant on the tarmac at Joint Base Andrews on Thursday after a reporter suggested he might not feel well enough to complete his full rally schedule.
Speaking to reporters Thursday, Marshall suggested that he was performing well enough for Trump to have “probably got better places to spend his time.”
However, a CNN/SSRS poll released Thursday placed Marshall four points behind his Democratic challenger, Adam Hamilton. Hamilton led with 49 percent support, compared with 45 percent for Marshall.
Trump said he could travel to another state “if something else comes up.”
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: Trump to Rally in Iowa and Kansas After Initially Canceling Weekend Trips Ahead of Midterms
“But he said, ‘You’re not going to Kansas, sir, are you feeling well?’” Trump continued. “‘You’ve been following me for two weeks. I feel perfect.’”
Trump has held a rally almost every day ahead of the midterm elections, as Republicans face bleak prospects of retaining control of the House of Representatives.
Democrats could also win enough closely contested races to regain their majority in the Senate.
Several Senate contests are competitive in states that were once considered reliably Republican, prompting Trump to campaign in South Carolina, Kansas, Mississippi, Texas, Ohio and Florida.
On Tuesday, Trump held two rallies in Texas in an effort to bolster Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton’s campaign against Democratic state Representative James Talarico.
Kansas Senator Roger Marshall is locked in a close race with Democrat Adam Hamilton in the traditionally Republican state. Trump scrapped plans Thursday to hold another rally for Marshall.
On the campaign trail, Trump has energized his supporters, although he has repeatedly departed from his prepared remarks.
On Sunday in Michigan, the President produced headlines by talking to the crowd about rapper Nicki Minaj’s ‘a**.’
He’s also gone into great detail explaining why he was ogling Ohio Senator Jon Husted’s body during a stop in Ohio.
At each rally, the story has gotten longer and more involved.
On Friday, Trump will return to the Sunshine State to help bolster the gubernatorial bid of Representative Byron Donalds and the Senate bid of Senator Ashley Moody.
He’s also expected to return to Michigan before Election Day, but no rally has been officially announced.