WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump sparked controversy after launching a personal attack on a journalist who questioned him about his health and the cancellation of two upcoming campaign rallies ahead of the November 3 midterm elections.
The reporter asked whether Trump had cancelled his scheduled campaign appearances in Kansas because he was tired after weeks of campaigning across the country. The question appeared to irritate the president, who responded by questioning the journalist’s health before turning his attention to his physical appearance.
When the reporter clarified that he was asking about the president’s health, Trump continued his attack, mocking the journalist’s physique and describing him as physically unfit.
“You look disgusting. Get your body in shape,” Trump said, adding that the reporter looked bad. He also defended his own health, saying he was in excellent condition and that the journalist had been observing him for the past two weeks.
The exchange came after Trump cancelled campaign rallies scheduled in Kansas and Iowa in the run-up to the November 3 midterm elections. A rally was due to take place in Salina, Kansas, on Saturday, followed by another in Dubuque, Iowa, on Sunday.
Trump had earlier indicated that he did not feel it was necessary to travel to Kansas, expressing confidence that Republican Senator Roger Marshall would win in the state. The Republican National Committee subsequently confirmed the cancellation of the Iowa event as well.
Instead of attending the rallies in person, Trump’s campaign fundraising organisation, MAGA Inc., plans to organise virtual campaign events across at least 19 states, including Kansas and Iowa, before polling day.
Since October 1, Trump has participated in 25 campaign events across 19 states in support of Republican candidates.
The midterm elections will determine whether Republicans can retain their narrow majorities in both the Senate and the House of Representatives. Despite cancelling the two campaign appearances, Trump is expected to travel to Florida on Friday for another election-related event.
Trump has previously spoken about the physical demands of campaigning. Addressing a rally in Mississippi on Monday, he remarked that God had not given human beings a voice box designed to support campaign rallies every day.
