President Donald Trump shared an unexpected moment of praise for former President Bill Clinton during a lighthearted appearance on Second Lady Usha Vance’s podcast, Storytime with the Second Lady, where he read a children’s book celebrating the outdoor hobbies of America’s presidents.
The Friday episode featured Trump reading from the White House Historical Association’s “Presidents Play!,” a book highlighting former commanders in chief and their favorite outdoor activities. As he worked his way through the presidents featured in the book, Trump paused when he reached Clinton, offering a surprisingly warm assessment of the former Democratic president while commenting on one of his White House traditions.
“And then you have President Bill Clinton — he ran on a special jogging track. He had a little track built for him at the White House. That’s nice. I didn’t even know that until recently, but he had a track built at the White House,” Trump said.
The president then contrasted Clinton’s preference with his own, joking that he could not envision following the same routine.
“I don’t think I’ll ever do that. I don’t see myself doing that, I don’t know,” Trump said before adding, “But he actually was a nice guy. I like Bill Clinton a lot. I still do.”
The conversation continued as Trump moved on to President Abraham Lincoln, whose pastime also drew commentary from the president.
“And then, you have President Abraham Lincoln — he rode horses. He liked riding horses, and that’s great,” Trump said. “I’d like to ride horses too. In fact, it gives me an idea. But when you fall off a horse, I’ve seen too many bad things happen.”
Second Lady Usha Vance quickly chimed in, agreeing with the president’s caution.
“No, it’s not,” Vance responded.
Trump then continued the playful exchange, suggesting there might be one horse he would feel comfortable riding.
“So, well, we’ve got a nice old horse that’s extremely slow and lazy — maybe I’d ride that one,” he joked.
The president kept the lighthearted mood going as he turned to another presidential family featured in the book.
“Anyway, father-and-son presidents — that’s George Bush’s father. They liked to pitch horseshoes, the Bushies!” Trump said with a laugh.
The remarks stood out because Trump has spent years sharply criticizing the Clinton family. His 2016 presidential campaign against Hillary Clinton was marked by repeated personal attacks and intense political battles before Trump ultimately defeated the former secretary of state in the general election.
Before entering politics, however, Trump had different interactions with the Clintons. The article notes that he had previously donated to the Clinton Foundation and was seen with Bill and Hillary Clinton in social settings.
Despite the fierce political rivalry that later emerged, Trump’s appearance on Storytime with the Second Lady produced a rare moment in which he spoke positively about the former president, offering friendly commentary while reading a children’s book about the recreational interests of America’s presidents.
