Trump Body-Shames Journalist After Health Question, Cancels Kansas and Iowa Rallies
Donald Trump has sparked controversy after body-shaming a journalist who questioned his health following the cancellation of campaign rallies in Kansas and Iowa. The President's remarks come amid a series of comments on people's appearances during the US midterm campaign.
“Oh, you're sick to ask that question. You are sick,” an angry Trump said when reporters asked whether his decision to cancel rallies was linked to him not feeling well.
The US president has been travelling to multiple states for weeks as part of the midterm election campaign, which will determine the course of his government for the remaining two years.
When the journalist clarified that he was simply checking on the President's health, Trump became more irritated and turned his attention to the reporter's physical appearance.
Mimicking the journalist, Trump said he was “way out of shape”.
“Look at this guy. He's way out of shape...you've been following me for two weeks. I feel perfect,” Trump said, asserting that his health was fine.
He also said he was not going to Kansas because he did not “feel like going there”.
“You are disgusting. Put yourself in shape. You look like hell,” Trump concluded.
The confrontation came as Trump cancelled his planned weekend campaign appearances in Kansas and Iowa.
His campaign funding group, MAGA Inc., said it would organise a series of tele-rallies featuring the President in at least 19 states, including Kansas and Iowa, before Election Day.
Trump's remarks about the journalist's appearance are not an isolated incident. During his election campaign ahead of the US midterms, he has repeatedly commented on the physical appearance of people, including Republican candidates, praising their hands, legs and other physical features.
During a rally in Michigan, Trump was accompanied by pop star Nicki Minaj, who claims to be his “number one fan”.
While praising the “Anaconda” singer, Trump made a crude remark about her appearance.
“By the way, I looked at a beautiful a** before: Nicki Minaj. That's hard to miss,” he said.
He then asked Minaj to “stand up”. She rose from her seat and waved to the audience.
Trump subsequently attempted to defuse the remark, saying, “I hope Nicki wasn't insulted, but we love Nicki. She's been with<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">President Speaks to Reporters, 10/29/26. One reporter behaves badly and gets a tongue-lashing: Trump to reporter: "You are a sick guy! Reuters is terrible, by the way." "Look at this guy. He's way out of shape — You are disgusting. Put yourself in shape. You look like hell." https://t.co/b3R8MgnCJu</p>— Shannon Ford 🇺🇸 (@shannonfordUSA) <a href="https://x.com/shannonfordUSA/status/2116011814127604083?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 30, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> us for a long time.”
In another instance in Kentucky, Trump praised the physical appearance of Republican candidates as part of his efforts to promote them ahead of the midterms.
Speaking about Senator Jon Husted, the Ohio Republican candidate, Trump said, “I examined his a**,” eliciting laughter from the audience.
“I never did that with a man before. I examined his a**. And then I looked at his shoulders. I looked at his feet. I looked at his hand. I looked at his jawline,” he said.
However, not all Republican candidates have received praise from Trump for their appearance.
During the party's midterm convention, Trump criticised his own Republican candidate Ken Paxton, who was standing nearby and grinning.
“I don't really like the way he looks,” Trump said about the Republican Senate candidate in Texas.
The US midterm elections are scheduled to be held on November 3, with 470 seats up for battle. The results will determine how much control Republicans will have over the US government during the remaining two years of Trump's presidency.
President Speaks to Reporters, 10/29/26. One reporter behaves badly and gets a tongue-lashing: Trump to reporter: "You are a sick guy! Reuters is terrible, by the way." "Look at this guy. He's way out of shape — You are disgusting. Put yourself in shape. You look like hell." https://t.co/b3R8MgnCJu
— Shannon Ford 🇺🇸 (@shannonfordUSA) October 30, 2026

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