'I usually read stories about myself': Usha Vance faces backlash after inviting Trump to children's podcast

Second Lady Usha Vance runs a podcast where guests read picture books to children. But her latest guest could not impress the audience much, as social media users said President Donald Trump must not have read any book to his children. In Trump’s appearance on Vance’s “Storytime with the Second Lady,” podcast, which was posted online Friday, the president read “Presidents Play!” a children’s book from the White House Historical Association that features illustrations of the presidents enjoying sports and using the White House and its grounds for recreation.When Vance asked Trump if he has much time to read for fun while serving as president, he replied that he ends up mostly reading newspapers.“I usually read stories about myself,” Trump said.

As Trump turned through the children’s book, he made observations about past presidents, cracked some jokes, and threw in a plug for the extensive ballroom he’s building on the White House grounds. He described Lyndon Johnson as a “tough cookie,” Ronald Reagan as a “high-quality person” and “like your father was president,” and John F Kennedy as “the second-most good-looking president.”A user asked, “Is she going to read to Trump?” Another user commented, “Yeahhhhh, I’m pretty sure I’ll be ok if I miss this!” Another user suggested, “Maybe don’t have a felon read to children?” A fourth user warned, “Run, children, run!!!”“Holding a kids' book like he’s luring a child to him!” A user remarked. Another user said, “You will ABSOLUTELY, MOST DEFINITELY want to miss this.” Another user asked, “Did you do the background check? Also? He can read?”"Trump never read anything, even the spoken briefings on tape is to much for him," one wrote on X. "He doesn't even read full articles. His "human copier" shows him quotes about himself and that equals reading for him," another wrote.As Usha Vance told Trump, “It’s really kind of you to take the time to read", social media users wondered what this actually meant.