Trump admits Melania 'hates' his trans athlete jokes and calls them 'unpresidential'
Trump admits Melania 'hates' his trans athlete jokes and calls them 'unpresidential'
Yelena Mandenberg & Chiara FiorilloWed, October 14, 2026 at 2:20 PM UTC
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Donald Trump said his wife, Melania Trump, disapproves of his jokes about trans athletes -Credit:SAUL LOEB, AFP via Getty Images (SAUL LOEB, AFP via Getty Images)
President Donald Trump openly admitted that his notably absent wife, Melania, considers it "unpresidential" when he mocks transgender athletes during his rally performances.
During a speech in Alaska on Tuesday, October 13, Trump launched into one of his trademark routines targeting trans athletes, complete with physical mimicry and exaggerated struggling motions, before pausing mid-act to reveal his wife's disapproval. "Oh, my wife hates this. She said it's so damn unpresidential, but it's sort of cool. Should I finish it or not?" Trump said as viewers chuckled in the background.
The crowd roared its approval, prompting the president to respond with "Thank you," before resuming his routine, in which he ridiculed an unnamed professional weightlifter. It comes as the Republican leader embarked on a bizarre late-night 26-post social media rant.
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This isn't the first time Trump has referenced Melania's objections to the jokes - he has repeated the same anecdote across numerous speeches over the past year. The impression formed part of his broader stump speech, which also featured claims of "We've won in Iran," delivered to the assembled Alaskan crowd.
The routine first drew significant backlash from multiple outlets and the general public when it debuted at rallies and other events around June 2025. By January 2026, Trump had begun routinely acknowledging Melania's distaste for his dancing and his impression of a transgender weightlifter during his public addresses, reports the Irish Star.
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Trump leaves after speaking at a campaign rally at the Menard Memorial Sports Center in Wasilla, Alaska, on October 13 -Credit:Alex Wong, Getty Images
The trans individual Trump references remains unidentified - as the only athlete matching the achievements he describes competed as a male almost a decade prior to transitioning, while the other prominent trans weightlifter in America holds no comparable record.
Archive footage from earlier in the year shows Trump repeating the identical talking points, including one Reuters clip from January.
Trump devoted most of Tuesday to making the journey to Alaska in advance of the midterm elections, highlighting Republican concerns about retaining Congressional control after the November 3 Election Day.
Trump launched into one of his trademark routines targeting trans athletes -Credit:KENT NISHIMURA, AFP via Getty Images
The president headlined the campaign event backing Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan in Wasilla, situated roughly 45 miles north of Anchorage. The town is both the hometown of former GOP vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin and a key hub for the Iditarod sled dog race.
Speaking to reporters before leaving the White House, Trump confirmed he was making the extensive trip specifically to support Sullivan, commending the senator's performance and stressing he wouldn't undertake the journey unless Sullivan deserved the backing. He indicated that the Alaska stop would be one component of a broader schedule encompassing several locations.
"I'm right now going to Alaska to try and help Dan Sullivan. That's a long way away," Trump told reporters as he left the White House for the trip on Tuesday.
"I would only do it if I thought he was good. And he's very good. And so, I'm going to Alaska to help Dan Sullivan, and then I'm stopping in numerous places."
Source: “AOL Entertainment”
