President Donald Trump brought up the weight loss of Iowa Senate candidate Ashley Hinson during a campaign rally in Dubuque, Iowa, on Sunday, November 1, 2026, telling the crowd she used to be “a little bit heavier” before getting into “perfect shape.” The remarks, delivered just two days before the midterm elections, quickly became one of the most talked-about moments of the rally — partly because a protester cut in right in the middle of the story.
Trump was speaking at the Five Flags Event Center in support of Hinson, a 43-year-old Republican congresswoman from Iowa’s 2nd Congressional District who is running for the U.S. Senate against Democratic state Representative Josh Turek. The seat is currently held by Republican Senator Joni Ernst.
What Trump Said About Hinson at the Dubuque Rally
Trump began the story by admitting he might be crossing a line. “You know what I respect about her — I shouldn’t say this. It’s inappropriate,” he told the crowd, according to ABC News. “Now, Ashley said, ‘Please, sir, don’t do this.’”
He then went ahead with the story anyway.
“I knew Ashley for a long time, and she was a little bit heavier, okay? She was. And she put herself — she knew what she was doing, she knew the weight that was on her, really literally the weight, and she knew the importance of what she was doing.”
Trump said Hinson lost the weight “the old-fashioned way, too, not you know, give me a shot” — a line widely read as a reference to weight-loss drugs like Ozempic. He added that Hinson was in “perfect shape” and that “she did that for you,” meaning the voters in the room.
The president also made a joke at his own expense, saying he had “put on a couple of pounds” by comparison.
The Heckler Who Cut In Mid-Story
The story did not go uninterrupted. A protester began shouting as Trump was building to what he called his “punchline.” Trump complained that protesters “always do it right in the middle of my punchline” and told the crowd not to bother with them.
“They’re paid protesters, don’t worry, they go away quickly. They’re like a gnat. They’re like a little fly.”
The crowd responded with a chant of “USA, USA,” and Trump finished the story about Hinson before moving on. A second protester was removed shortly afterward, according to reporters inside the venue.
The exchange added a chaotic note to a rally that was meant to be a final push for Republican votes in a state that has become surprisingly competitive.
A Pattern of Comments on Candidates’ Bodies
The Hinson moment was not a one-off. Trump has spent much of the final stretch of the 2026 midterm campaign commenting on the physical appearance of Republican Senate candidates.
He has repeatedly praised the physique of Ohio Senator Jon Husted, calling him a “pile of muscle” and making comments about his backside at multiple rallies. CNN reported that Trump even credited his comments about Husted’s body with improving the senator’s poll numbers.
The pattern has drawn criticism from some political observers, who say the comments distract from the issues Republicans want to talk about — the economy, gas prices, and border security. Others have noted that Trump, a former beauty pageant owner, has a long history of judging people by their appearance in public settings.
Where the Iowa Senate Race Stands
The rally came at a tense moment for Republicans in Iowa. A New York Times/Siena College poll released just before the rally showed the Senate race essentially tied, with Turek at 48% and Hinson at 47%.
That is a sharp shift from earlier in the year. The Washington Times reported that Hinson had held a roughly 9-point lead in recent surveys, but the race tightened as Turek cut into her advantage.
Trump carried Iowa by 13 percentage points in 2024, but the political mood has shifted. High gas prices, the ongoing war with Iran, and concerns about the cost of living have put once-safe Republican seats in play.
The president himself acknowledged the stakes, telling the crowd that “we have to get the Senate.”
What Hinson Has Said
Hinson has not publicly responded to Trump’s remarks about her weight. Her campaign did not issue a statement in the hours after the rally.
She did take the stage in Dubuque before Trump spoke, greeting attendees and making her own pitch to voters. Photos from the event show her speaking at the Five Flags Event Center ahead of the president’s arrival.
Hinson, a former television news anchor, has represented Iowa in Congress since 2021. She announced her Senate run last year and promised to be Trump’s “strongest ally” in the chamber if elected.
Stay with VvipTimes for more coverage of the stories shaping the midterms.
Leave a Reply