President Donald Trump teamed up with Second Lady Usha Vance for a special episode of her children’s podcast — filmed right in the Oval Office.
The episode of “Storytime with the Second Lady” featured Trump and Vance reading “Presidents Play,” a book published by the White House Historical Society about the hobbies of past commanders-in-chief.
Trump kicked things off with a joke about his 11 grandchildren — promising to make the episode “mandatory” viewing for them.
“That won’t mean anything—that means they still won’t do it, but I’ll make it mandatory.”
As they flipped through the book, Trump offered his trademark colorful takes on former presidents.
On Lyndon B. Johnson and Ronald Reagan: Trump noted they were “very different types of presidents.” While Johnson wasn’t in the same physical shape as Reagan, he was still a “tough cookie.” Trump praised Reagan as a “high-quality person” whom many people looked up to.
On Bill Clinton: Reacting to an illustration of Clinton running on a jogging track, Trump admitted he hadn’t even realized the White House grounds had one until recently.
“I don’t think I’ll ever do that. I don’t see myself doing that,” Trump said, before adding, “But he actually was a nice guy. I like Bill Clinton a lot. I still do.”
On Abraham Lincoln: The book showed Lincoln riding a horse, prompting Trump to share a personal hesitation.
“I’d like to ride horses too,” he revealed. “In fact, it gives me an idea, but when you fall off a horse, I’ve seen too many bad things happen.”
On Barack Obama: Trump remarked on Obama’s athletic pastimes: “Obama is a basketball player. I don’t know if he’s a good basketball player, I tend to doubt it. Actually, his favorite sport is golf … But he won’t be in the Masters anytime soon.”
On William Howard Taft: Commenting on Taft’s famously large stature, Trump joked about his own fitness goals.
“He was our heaviest president, and I have to be careful, because I don’t want to supersede his record, and a thing like that would be possible if I allowed it to happen. For all of you out there watching, keep yourself in good shape, right?”
On Franklin D. Roosevelt and Gerald Ford: Trump shared a fun historical fact for the young audience — the current White House press briefing room used to be an indoor swimming pool. That led into a comment on Gerald Ford, who later built the outdoor pool on the property.
“I don’t get to use it,” Trump quipped. “I don’t know if I look good in a bathing suit. I haven’t had a bathing suit in a long time.”
On John F. Kennedy: Trump had kind words for the 35th president, calling him the “second-most-good looking president” — leaving the audience to guess who holds the top spot.
The conversation also touched on local politics when a page depicting Harry Truman taking a stroll outside prompted Trump to praise Vice President JD Vance. Trump pointed out that, with the vice president’s help, Washington D.C. has once again become a very safe place.
Independence Day is almost here! 🇺🇸 Celebrate our country’s 250th birthday with me and special reader President Trump as he reads about our former (and current!) presidents’ favorite pastimes on Storytime with the Second Lady.https://t.co/MMGBWjWgfP
— Second Lady Usha Vance (@SLOTUS) July 3, 2026
The episode drops just ahead of Independence Day and America’s 250th birthday celebration.
