‘You look like hell’, Trump body shames Reuters journalist
US President Donald Trump verbally attacked a Reuters journalist on Thursday, criticising his physical appearance and telling him he looked like “hell” after the reporter questioned his health and decision to cancel planned campaign rallies in Kansas and Iowa.
The exchange began when the journalist asked Trump whether his decision not to travel to Kansas was related to feeling unwell after weeks of campaigning across the country.
Trump reacted angrily, telling the reporter, “Oh, you're sick to ask that question. You are sick.”
When the journalist identified himself as a Reuters correspondent, Trump added, “Reuters is terrible, by the way.”
The reporter attempted to clarify that he was asking about the president's well-being, but Trump turned his attention to the journalist's appearance, briefly mimicking him before saying, “Look at this guy. He's way out of shape.”
When the reporter again asked whether he was feeling well, Trump insisted that he was in perfect health.
“I've been following me for two weeks. I feel perfect,” he said, before launching another personal attack on the journalist.
“You are disgusting. Put yourself in shape. You look like hell,” Trump said.
Trump cancels Kansas, Iowa campaign rallies
The confrontation came as Trump cancelled planned campaign appearances in Kansas and Iowa, where Republicans are facing competitive races ahead of Tuesday's midterm elections.
The rallies were scheduled for Saturday in Salina, Kansas, and Sunday in Dubuque, Iowa. Trump told reporters he did not “feel like I have to go to Kansas”, while expressing confidence in the prospects of Republican Senator Roger Marshall in the state.
The Republican National Committee later announced the cancellation of the Iowa rally as well.
Instead of appearing in person, Trump's campaign funding group, MAGA Inc, said it would organise tele-rallies featuring the president in at least 19 states, including Kansas and Iowa, before Election Day.
Since October 1, Trump has held 25 rallies across 19 states to support Republican candidates. The midterm elections will determine whether Republicans retain their narrow majorities in both the US Senate and the House of Representatives.
Despite cancelling the two appearances, Trump is expected to travel to Florida on Friday for another campaign event.
The president has previously acknowledged the physical demands of his campaign schedule. Speaking at a rally in Mississippi on Monday, he said, “God didn't make your vocal cords to do a rally every day.”