Former President Trump made a lighthearted comment about North Carolina Republican gubernatorial candidate Mark Robinson’s weight during a rally in Asheboro, N.C., on Wednesday.
As he addressed supporters from the stage, Trump directed a joke at Robinson, saying, “Thank Goodness, Mark lost a lot of weight over the last couple of months.” He then affirmed, “You did actually.”
Trump comments on Robinson’s weight during a rally, noting the GOP candidate’s progress in a humorous way
This rally marked Trump’s first outdoor campaign event since he was grazed by a bullet during an assassination attempt in Butler, Pa. For added security, the stage in North Carolina was surrounded by bulletproof glass and storage containers were strategically placed nearby.
David Keltz, deputy communications director for Robinson’s campaign, remarked that Trump made the comment after inviting Robinson and 30 endorsing sheriffs onto the small stage. Keltz noted that all 30 sheriffs had endorsed Robinson earlier that day.
Trump’s remark about Robinson’s weight follows a similar comment he made about Sen. Jon Tester’s (D-Mont.) appearance, where he criticized the senator’s physique, calling it “the biggest stomach I have ever seen.”
Robinson’s spokesperson, Mike Lonergan, responded to Trump’s comment by stating that the GOP gubernatorial nominee has been diligently working on his fitness and appreciated the compliment from Trump.
Trump has also targeted former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie for his weight, which Christie criticized in return, emphasizing that such comments are irrelevant to his capabilities. During his civil fraud trial, Trump even made self-deprecating remarks about his own weight.
