Sen. Husted Responds to Trump's Physique Comments, Cites Gym Motivation
Ohio Republican jokes about hitting the gym after President Trump repeatedly praised his body during campaign rallies.
Ohio Sen. Jon Husted has taken President Donald Trump's unusual praise of his physique in stride, joking that the comments have inspired him to increase his gym workouts.
Trump has repeatedly commented on Husted's muscular build during campaign rallies, describing the senator's physique in detail and expressing admiration. Husted, a former college football player, responded to the remarks on Sunday.
"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.
During a rally in Youngstown, Ohio, Trump described Husted's backside and legs, saying, "It’s like a pile of muscle!" He later reiterated his observations at a rally in Greenville, North Carolina, adding that Husted was "like a piece of steel" and a "monster."
Trump's comments about Husted's body have drawn attention as Husted faces a challenging re-election campaign against Democratic former Sen. Sherrod Brown. A Fox News poll indicates Brown leading Husted 52% to 47%, positioning the race as a key contest for control of the Senate.
Husted, 59, played college football at the University of Dayton, where he was part of a team that won a Division III national championship. He acknowledged his athletic background, stating, "We’re an athletic family. We try to stay in shape. 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."