Donald Trump made an unexpected comparison between his wife Melania Trump and former First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt during a recent campaign rally in Iowa. While praising his wife’s public work, the president described her as the “next Eleanor Roosevelt” before shifting to other subjects in his speech.
Donald Trump compares Melania to Eleanor Roosevelt
President Donald Trump compared First Lady Melania Trump to Eleanor Roosevelt during a campaign rally in Sioux City, Iowa, on October 22. Speaking to supporters at Sioux Gateway Airport less than 12 days before the midterm elections, Trump praised his wife’s public image and discussed her work with foster children.
“My wife is a beautiful, elegant woman. Very respected,” Trump said of Melania. He then made the comparison to the wife of former President Franklin D. Roosevelt, stating, “She’s actually becoming the next Eleanor Roosevelt.” Trump followed the remark by referring to Melania’s involvement with foster children, saying, “Every time I look, foster kids, she’s always doing a great job.”
The president also shared his wife’s reaction to his dancing onstage. “She’s always saying, ‘Don’t dance. You are the president of the United States of America. Don’t you know that? Don’t dance on stage. I love you very much, but the dancing is not presidential,’” he said. Trump then brought up her views on weightlifting, adding, “And she particularly hates the weightlifting.”
The president then shifted the speech toward transgender athletes, saying, “A man comes along transgendered. He transfers over to womanhood in a lovely ceremony. He became a woman and goes out to the stage.” Trump concluded the remark by stating, “He was a failed male weightlifter.”
Eleanor Roosevelt served as first lady from 1933 to 1945, during her husband Franklin D. Roosevelt’s four terms as president. She remains the longest-serving first lady in U.S. history as a result.
