Trump’s arrest weight ‘loss’ leaves people flabbergasted: ‘Like hell!’ | US News

At the peak of his legendary boxing career, Muhammad Ali weighed in for his bouts at around 214lbs (97kg).

At 6’3 in height, he was considered lean and sculpted compared to rival heavyweights of his day – who were by no means pudgy themselves.

But these measurements happen to be almost identical to those posted this week for a brawler of the political world not exactly known for his chiseled physique.

The record of Donald Trump’s booking at Fulton County Jail, Georgia, where the former US president surrendered himself on Thursday, states he weighs 215lbs and is 6’3 tall.

If accurate, it indicates he has lost an astonishing 29 lbs (13kg) since his last presidential medical exam in 2020 – and now has a ‘moderately overweight’ body mass index (BMI) of 26.7.

It’s a far cry from 2018, when his presidential doctor suggested he ‘could lose some weight’ at 239 lbs – which, at a BMI of 30.4, made him medically obese.

The 2020 examination weighed him at 244 lbs, which didn’t suggest any successful efforts to count his calories in the meantime.

CNN, ABC News and Fox News all report that the 77-year-old’s latest measurements were not taken at the station but instead reported to police ahead of time to speed up the process.

Commentators quickly seized on the flattering figures, with CNN anchor Jake Tapper heard muttering ‘wait, wait, what?’ as his colleagues revealed them.

Sports fans have since identified other athletes whose measurements match or closely match Trump’s despite being in tip-top condition.

Former American football star Larry Fitzgerald is recorded as weighing 218lbs at a height of 6’3 while playing as a wide receiver for the Arizona Cardinals.

Photos of his game appearances show he was as lean and muscular as most other top stars who play in the same position.

Tweeting side-by-side photos of Fitzgerald and Trump, NFL commentator Scott Kacsmar wrote: ‘Like hell!’

Political commentator Ron Filipkowski pointed to star college linebacker Noah Karim Mikhail, who says he currently weighs 215lbs at 6’3 tall – and cuts a similarly strapping figure.

Doubts have been raised around the accuracy of the jail’s filings, with mistakes made on the features such as hair and eye colour noted for some of Trump’s co-defendants on their bookings.

Rudy Giuliani, the former New York mayor and Trump lawyer accused of involvement in illegal election fraud conspiracies, was initially listed as 180lbs and 5’9 after his surrender on Wednesday.

Later that day, the numbers were quietly changed to 230lbs and 5’11 – rather less flattering, depending on your priorities.

But comments given by a Trump aide to ABC suggest the numbers were handed over by his own team.

An error could have been introduced further down the chain of information, although it’s not clear where.

One of Mr Giuliani’s team anonymously told the Washington Post they did not recall anyone asking the politician for his height or weight, or asking him to step on a scale.

The booking also produced the first mugshot of a former or sitting US president, marking a watershed moment in US history – and, naturally, prompting a deluge of memes.

The case, which he describes as a ‘travesty of justice’, involves charges of plotting to overturn Georgia’s 2020 election results.

Trump was previously arrested in April over payments to pornstar Stormy Dainels, in June over federal charges related to his handling of classified documents after leaving office, and earlier this month on other federal charges related to efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election. He denies all the counts against him.

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