Trump hands out beauty compliments on midterm trail as 5 candidates get unusual remarks

Republican congressional candidate Ed Gallrein received a Hollywood-style compliment when Trump introduced him at a rally in Highland Heights, Kentucky, on October 17. "Look at this beautiful guy," Trump said of the former Navy SEAL before adding, "Central casting." Gallrein, who defeated Rep Thomas Massie in the Republican primary with Trump's backing, stood near the stage as the president praised his appearance. The remarks reflected Trump's habit of comparing political figures to actors selected for a movie role.

Ohio Sen Jon Husted received one of Trump's more unusual compliments during the same Kentucky rally. Calling Husted "a perfect person, good-looking guy," Trump went on to describe how he had assessed the senator's physique. "I examined his a**," Trump said, drawing laughter from the audience, before describing how he studied Husted's shoulders, feet, hands and jawline. Trump had made similar remarks at an earlier Ohio rally, where he highlighted Husted's background as a college football player.

At an October 16 rally in Dalton, Georgia, Trump compared Republican Senate candidate Mike Collins with Democratic incumbent Jon Ossoff. "Somebody said, 'He's a good-looking man,' I don't think he's a good-looking man," Trump said of Ossoff. Turning his attention to Collins, the president declared, "I actually think Mike Collins is a good-looking man, and he's all man." Trump also compared Ossoff to the fictional character Pee-wee Herman while campaigning for Collins in Georgia's Senate race.

Republican Georgia gubernatorial candidate Rick Jackson was another recipient of Trump's compliments during the October 16 Dalton rally. "And I actually think that Rick Jackson is a very handsome, distinguished, beautiful-looking guy," Trump told the crowd. "But anyway," he added, abruptly moving on. Jackson, a businessman seeking Georgia's governorship, had joined Trump at the campaign event alongside other Republican candidates.

Not every Republican candidate has received a flattering assessment. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton found himself on the receiving end of Trump's criticism during an earlier Republican midterm convention. "I don't really like the way he looks," Trump said as Paxton stood nearby grinning. The president also took aim at Paxton's clothing, although he acknowledged that the attorney general's conservative political record carried more weight than his appearance. Trump's comments showed that his running assessments of candidates' looks were not always complimentary, even when directed at fellow Republicans.