At a Nov. 1 rally in Iowa, President Trump told the crowd he had known Senate hopeful Ashley Hinson for a long time, then said she“was a little bit heavier,”drawing laughter before crediting her weight loss to“the old-fashioned way”rather than a shot. When Hinson came onstage for a handshake, Trump pulled her forward into a hug and cheek kiss, and observers noted she appeared unhappy during the exchange.
The moment quickly spread online. Critics condemned the comments as disrespectful and pointed to Trump’s own reported weight of roughly 238 pounds in May, while supporters framed it as his usual unfiltered rally style. Hinson has not publicly addressed the episode, but the clip has everyone debating how candidates should handle unexpected attention from Trump, and whether it helps or hurts her with Iowa voters.
The rally also fits a broader pattern of Trump’s unscripted remarks about women’s appearances, which has reshaped how campaigns prepare for sharing a stage with him. What would you do if you were Hinson in that moment? Tell us in the comments.
About the Author
Local Lawton
Local Lawton is a contributor to LocalBeat, covering local news and community stories.