In a recent podcast interview with Second Lady Usha Vance, President Donald Trump spoke about his reading habits, waistline, and reflections on past presidents. The conversation, recorded in the Oval Office and released on July 3, 2026, was part of Vance's Storytime podcast, which promotes child literacy.
During the interview, Trump mentioned that he primarily reads newspapers and often finds stories about himself. He recalled a childhood favorite book, 'Run, Spot, Run,' and began reading from 'Presidents Play,' which features illustrations of U.S. leaders in various sports.
While discussing William Howard Taft, the heaviest president in U.S. history, Trump noted his own weight of 238 pounds, which is an increase of 14 pounds since April 2025. He joked about needing to be careful not to surpass Taft's record.
Trump also commented on several former presidents, describing Bill Clinton as 'a nice guy,' Ronald Reagan as 'a high quality person,' and Jimmy Carter as having 'a hard time as president.' He questioned Barack Obama's basketball skills, suggesting that Obama is more interested in golf.
The interview concluded with Trump proposing a gathering of former presidents, including Obama, George W. Bush, and Joe Biden, to watch a football game together.