President Donald Trump has a new pitch for Republican candidates: they're easy on the eyes. At a rally in Kentucky, Trump pointed to U.S. House candidate Ed Gallrein, a former U.S. Navy SEAL with an angular face standing near the stage, and praised his appearance.
"Look at this beautiful guy," Trump said. "Central casting."
Trump's Beauty Pageant Background Shapes His Praise
This is a common refrain from Trump. He owned the Miss Universe beauty pageant and grew his clout on the reality television show "The Apprentice" before entering politics. Aesthetics have long been part of the president's measuring stick — either as a source of praise or a target for ridicule.
The pattern is clear: Trump measures people partly by how they look. He did it as a pageant owner, he did it as a reality TV host, and now he is doing it as a political kingmaker.
Why Trump Is Talking About Looks in a Midterm Election
Trump is now using his handsomeness appraisals as he boosts Republican candidates in a midterm election. That race already includes debates over which candidates are best suited to represent the party.
For Trump, appearance appears to be part of that conversation. He is telling rally crowds that his preferred candidates not only have the right politics — they also look the part.
- Trump called House candidate Ed Gallrein a "beautiful guy" at a Kentucky rally
- Gallrein is a former U.S. Navy SEAL with an angular face
- Trump described him as "central casting" — a term from the entertainment world
- Trump owned the Miss Universe pageant before entering politics
- He built his public profile on the reality show "The Apprentice"
Our Take: Looks Should Not Be the Measure of a Candidate
To put it plainly, this is a strange way to recommend someone for public office. A candidate's face and build say nothing about how they will vote, what policies they will support, or how well they will serve the people who elect them.
In our view, Trump's comments reveal something about how he sees politics — as a kind of casting call. He spent years running a beauty pageant and a reality TV show, and he still talks about people as if they are auditioning for a role. "Central casting" is a Hollywood phrase, not a reason to send someone to Congress.
Supporters may see this as harmless fun, and Trump's rallies have always mixed entertainment with politics. But there is a real cost. When the leader of a party ranks candidates by appearance, it sends a message that looks matter more than ideas. That is a poor standard for a midterm election, where voters should be judging candidates on their records and their plans.
Ed Gallrein may be a fine candidate. He served as a Navy SEAL, which is a serious credential. But the reason Trump gave the crowd was his face. Readers should ask themselves whether that is the kind of recommendation that should carry weight at the ballot box. In our view, it should not.
The president's habit of appraising people's bodies — praising some and mocking others — has followed him from the pageant stage to the political stage. It draws attention, but it does not tell voters anything useful about who can actually do the job.
