'Like a young Abraham Lincoln': Trump's praise for VP hopeful spurs hilarity
Former President Donald Trump subjected one of his top picks for vice president to much ridicule Wednesday with an odd comment on his physical appearance.
Trump called into the Brian Kilmeade Show on Fox News radio — during which he responded to a yes-or-no question with a minutes-long free associating rant — to discuss, among other topics, rumors of a personal opposition to Sen. J.D. Vance (R-OH).
"Word is that you won’t pick J.D. Vance because of his facial hair," Kilmeade asked. "Is that is that true?"
"No, I've never heard that one," Trump replied. "It looks good, like a young Abraham Lincoln."
"Right," Kilmeade replied. "He's a handsome man."
This exchange swiftly made its way to social media where Trump, Kilmeade and Vance were subjected to a fact-check and much mockery.
"Other than the fact that he’s short and pudgy, and wears eyeliner in the misguided attempt to make his beady little eyes look more intense, sure," replied Linda Heathfield. "Vance looks exactly like Lincoln!"
"What kind of question is that," asked X user @blackpugs. "Is there nothing more important going on these day?"
Marc Caputo, political reporter for the Bulwark, argued Trump's flattery of Vance's physical appearance made it more likely he would be the presumptive presidential nominee's pick for running mate.
"Push him up a notch," Caputo wrote.
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X user Neil Younger replied with a prediction for Vance: "He gets the nomination but has to wear a stovepipe hat."
An exasperated X user @wiley_inc likened Trump's continual teasing of the announcement to the former president's reality television series, calling the interview "the latest episode of the never ending The Apprentice series."
Activist Parker Krex said Trump was wrong about what Lincoln looked like.
"Young Abraham Lincoln was clean shaven," Krex noted. "He didn’t grow his beard out until after the 1860 election when he received a letter from 11-year old Grace Bedell."
Listen to the interview below or click here.