President Donald J. Trump complimented Republican Senator Jon Husted's physique on Oct. 12, remarking that he has 'looked at his ass.'
At an Oct. 12 rally in Youngstown, Trump began speaking about Husted, who is up for reelection and is running against challenger and former Democratic senator Sherrod Brown. Trump said that while he doesn't "doesn't do this with men very often," he "started examining his body because I didn't know he was a great athlete."
"And I looked and I watched up and down," Trump said. "I looked at his ass and I looked at the whole … and then I looked at his hands. Look at his hands. He's got these like claws. And I got it – you are a great athlete."
Husted was a former University of Dayton cornerback and kick returner, and he
earned All-America defensive back honors as part of the 1989 Division III National Championship football team.
Husted, who was appointed to fill the role vacated by U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance, is running against Brown, who previously served 18 years in the U.S. Senate. . Brown lost his seat in 2024 to Republican U.S. Sen. Bernie Moreno. Husted has Trump's endorsement.
The Dispatch reported that Brown led Husted 47% to 44% in a Suffolk University/USA TODAY Ohio Network poll of likely voters released Sept. 30. The survey, which has a 4.4% margin of error, is among several to place Brown and Husted in a dead heat as both parties clamor for control of the Senate. A Marist Poll showed Brown with a lead over Husted of 51% to 43% with a margin of error of 3.8%.
At the rally, Trump said Husted's poll numbers "have gone through the roof."
"We have to get Vivek (Ramaswamy) and Jon, we've got to get them in and I think we will," Trump said.
Cole Behrens covers K-12 education and school districts in central Ohio. Have a tip? Contact Cole at cbehrens@dispatch.com or connect with him on X at @Colebehr_report
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Is Husted behind Brown? Trump says no, but admires senator's backside
