Featured Image Credit: Win McNamee/Getty Images
Topics: Donald Trump, Politics, US News, JD Vance, News
Rhianna Benson
Topics: Donald Trump, Politics, US News, JD Vance, News
A bizarre moment unfolded during Donald Trump's latest White House address, when he mocked JD Vance over his physique.
The speech was intended to celebrate the Easter holidays and serve as a moment of reflection amidst ongoing political turbulence, but ended up seeing Trump sporadically changing the topic at lightning speed.
Within a matter of minutes, he slammed European leaders for refusing to back America in its conflict against Iran, issued Charlie Kirk's widow Erica legal advice on tackling online trolls, and compared himself to Jesus Christ.
During one segment, however, the 79-year-old turned his attention to his Cabinet, when his right-hand man suddenly came to mind.
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Scanning the room for the United States' Vice President, Trump appeared unable to locate him for several seconds.
"I think JD, is JD here? Where is JD?" he wondered, searching around the room.
After a fellow attendee pointed out that the 41-year-old VP was sitting several rows from the front in his usual position, Trump was visibly taken aback.
"Oh, JD!" he exclaimed, smiling, before putting his confusion down to a change in Vance's appearance.
"He’s lost weight, he got a little thinner," Trump went on to tease. "I’m looking for a heavy-set gentleman, and now I find a perfect-looking specimen."
Unsurprisingly, the politician's remarks haven't gone down very well with a number of onlookers, even those who take the same dislike to fellow Republican leader, Vance.
"That man is so unbelievably inappropriate and gross," one X user hit out.
Another jibed: "Wow, good for you America. This is your President."
Others, however, were amused by the remark, with one left-leaning social media user teasing: "He’s perfected the half roast/half compliment."
Another described the weight-based comment as a 'humiliation ritual of the 33rd degree'.
This is far from the first time that Trump has brought up the subject of weight while discussing members of his administration.
In May of last year, the President publicly ranted about his 'overweight' friend during a discussion on the cost of weight loss drugs.
"A friend of mine whose a businessman - very, very, very top guy - most of you would have heard of him, highly neurotic, brilliant businessman, seriously overweight, and he takes the fat shot drug," Trump mused at the time.
Months later, Vance addressed the remark, shutting down speculation that the comment was about him.
"He’s not talking about me," the VP interjected during a Cabinet meeting.