# Trump judges GOP candidates by looks at rallies

> The former Miss Universe pageant owner is using physical appearance as a campaign tool, praising some Republicans' looks while mocking others and Democrats.
- Title: Trump judges GOP candidates by looks at rallies · Fortune
- Summary: The former Miss Universe pageant owner is using physical appearance as a campaign tool, praising some Republicans' looks while mocking others and Democrats…
- Keywords: donald trump, 2024 midterm elections, republican candidates, ed gallrein, jon husted, ken paxton, campaign rallies, Trump, judges, GOP, candidates, looks
- Source: Fortune — https://fortune.com/2026/10/18/trump-miss-universe-pageant-handsome-gop-candidates-body-parts-republican-midterm-elections
- Author: Jesse Bedayn
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: donald trump, 2024 midterm elections, republican candidates, ed gallrein, jon husted, ken paxton, campaign rallies
## Trump praises Gallrein's appearance
At a Saturday rally in Kentucky, President Trump called U.S. House candidate Ed Gallrein, a former Navy SEAL, a beautiful guy and said he looked like central casting.

> Look at this beautiful guy. Central casting.
## Trump examines Husted's body parts
Trump described Ohio Republican Sen. Jon Husted as a perfect person and good-looking guy, then said he examined his ass, shoulders, feet, hand and jawline.

> I examined his ass. I never did that with a man before. I examined his ass. And then I looked at his shoulders. I looked at his feet. I looked at his hand. I looked at his jawline.
## Trump criticizes Paxton and Democrats
Trump said he does not like the way Republican Senate candidate Ken Paxton looks. He compared Democrat James Talarico to Alfred E. Neuman and Sen. Jon Ossoff to Pee-wee Herman.

> I don't really like the way he looks.
## Trump's beauty pageant background shapes approach
Trump owned the Miss Universe pageant and starred in The Apprentice before politics. Aesthetics have long been his measuring stick for praise or ridicule of candidates.
## Key takeaway

Trump is assessing Republican and Democratic candidates based on physical appearance at campaign rallies, praising some as handsome while criticizing others' looks.