Vice President JD Vance joked on live television that he is “jealous” President Trump has never praised his backside the way the president keeps praising Ohio Senator Jon Husted’s.
Quick Take
- Vance made the joke during a Fox News town hall with host Jesse Watters that aired October 29, 2026.
- Trump has repeatedly complimented Husted’s physique at rallies, online videos, and public events.
- Husted admitted the comments pushed him to start hitting the gym harder.
- Vance has joked about the topic more than once, including at a campaign rally.
Vance’s Fox News Confession
Jesse Watters asked Vance directly why President Trump keeps praising Husted’s backside. Vance laughed before answering. “Well, first of all, I’m jealous,” Vance said. “The president’s never said that about me. I gotta get back in the gym maybe and draw that particular piece of praise.” The moment aired during Watters’ Primetime show, taped at a town hall in Fort Worth, Texas.
Vance, 42, kept his tone light throughout the exchange. He did not criticize Trump or distance himself from the running joke that has followed the Ohio senator for weeks. Instead, Vance played along, turning the question into a self-deprecating bit about his own fitness routine rather than brushing it off.
Trump’s Running Commentary on Husted’s Physique
The jokes did not come from nowhere. Trump has brought up Husted’s build at multiple public appearances this fall, calling it “a pile of muscle” during a rally in Greenville, North Carolina. “I’ve never studied the body of a man before,” Trump told the crowd. “It’s not my thing. Nothing wrong with it, of course.”
Trump has repeated the compliment in different settings, including a TikTok video recorded in the Oval Office. “I told the people, they didn’t know this, he has a great ***,” Trump said in the clip. The remark has since become a recurring theme at his events, often drawing laughs from supporters in attendance.
Husted Responds, Vance Keeps Joking
Husted finally addressed the attention directly, saying Trump’s comments motivated him to work out more. “I’ve got to get down to the gym,” Husted said, acknowledging the president’s praise had become something of a running storyline during his Senate campaign. He did not seem bothered by the attention, treating it as good-natured ribbing from the Oval Office.
🇺🇸 JD Vance has the second most powerful job in America, and he still can't get Trump to compliment his ASS.
Jesse Watters: "The president keeps saying Jon Husted has a great ass. What's going on with that?"
Vance: "I'm jealous. The president has never said that about me."…
— Mario Nawfal (@MarioNawfal) October 30, 2026
Vance has returned to the joke more than once. At a separate rally, he told the crowd he would not be discussing “Jon Husted’s a**,” drawing laughs of his own. He later added that the administration is made up of “self-confident men” who are “not afraid” of a little ribbing over physiques.
Lighthearted Moment in a Serious Political Season
None of this changes the substance of Trump’s agenda or Husted’s Senate campaign in Ohio, where midterm races remain closely watched. But the exchange shows a White House comfortable enough to laugh at itself in public, even on live television, rather than treat every offhand comment as a crisis requiring damage control from staff.
Conservative voters tired of a media class that manufactures outrage over every presidential remark may find the episode refreshing. Trump and Vance handled a silly moment with humor instead of defensiveness, a trait plenty of Americans say they wish more politicians, on both sides of the aisle, actually had.
Sources:
mediaite.com, huffpost.com, themirror.com, indy100.com, ibtimes.co.uk
