Donald Trump Drools Over Young Woman at Military Graduation: 'She Looks So Fantastic'

President Donald Trump sparked widespread public reaction for commenting on the physical appearance of a female graduate during his commencement address at the U.S. Coast Guard Academy on Wednesday, May 20.

During the commencement ceremony, the POTUS called up Class President Savannah Riera of Cranford, N.J., to the stage. He joked, "Savannah, come on up here. I have to. If I didn't invite her up, they'd accuse me of discrimination. It'd be, 'Ladies and gentlemen, the president got sued today.'" As she approached, he added, "She looks so fantastic. This is ridiculous. Nothing like having a little fun, do you agree?"

Before calling Riera, Trump highlighted Thomas Rhodes, a male cadet who achieved a perfect physical fitness score. Trump poked at his build, stating, "Whoa! Look at the muscles on this guy!" and joking that touching the cadet's shoulder "was like hitting a rock."

Trump also brought up Matthew Christopher Coulter, the cadet who graduated at the top of the class, jokingly remarking, "I hate good-looking men."

Detractors and various media commentators characterized the remarks as inappropriate, awkward, or disrespectful, calling him a “dirty old” man, an “embarrassment” and a “predator.”

They argued that shifting a formal military commencement address toward the appearance of young officers detracted from the event's dignity.

“Keep him away from young women,” warned one commenter.

“Here we go again with Trump indirectly admitting he doesn’t really want to recognize a woman’s accomplishments, or genuinely believing others don’t want him to. Also, any kind of compliment for a woman that isn’t about her appearance doesn’t even occur to him. Such a dumb pig,” snapped another.

“Remember, this is the person you will be taking orders from. Good Luck,” quipped another.

The 79-year-old POTUS, an adjudicated rapist of writer E. Jean Carroll, has a long-standing and well-documented habit of publicly commenting on the physical appearances of both political allies and opponents.

Communications experts and political analysts note he frequently uses physical descriptions to either elevate or diminish individuals, depending on his political or personal alignment with them.

He frequently highlights the looks of women he favors. He described his press secretary, Karoline Leavitt, by saying, "That face … and those lips.”

Conversely, women who oppose him or whom he dislikes are often subjected to derogatory body-focused insults. Past examples include labeling adult film star and hush money recipient Stormy Daniels "horseface," calling Rosie O'Donnell a "fat pig," and referring to former White House aide Omarosa Manigault Newman as a "dog." He similarly targeted political rival Carly Fiorina by mocking her face to reporters.

While his comments on women often attract the most media attention, Trump is equally candid about evaluating the physical traits of men.

When Trump approves of a male leader's appearance, he frequently uses the phrase "central casting" to mean they look perfectly suited for a Hollywood role. He used this term to praise Chinese President Xi Jinping, admiring his stature and calling him "tall —very tall."

In a rambling tangent during a speech to U.S. troops, Trump paradoxically joked that he "dislikes good-looking people," claiming there were too many attractive individuals in the room and that he preferred to focus entirely on "merit."