Donald Trump joked he was risking his entire political career as he gushed over ‘beautiful’ WNBA star Sophie Cunningham at an event in Ohio.

Trump spoke at a Republican campaign rally in Youngstown ahead of the upcoming midterm elections, where he was joined by former NFL coach Jon Gruden and influencer-turned-boxer Jake Paul.

With Gruden in attendance, the topic turned towards women in college sports, a topic Indiana Fever star Sophie Cunningham has been particularly outspoken about, fueling a massive political debate. 

The President immediately thought of Cunningham and felt compelled to speak positively about the 30-year-old – but with focus on her looks rather than her basketball ability. 

‘Sophie Cunningham. I like Sophie,’ Trump said to the crowd. ‘You have a lot of men wanting to go and watch her, she’s beautiful.’ 

Pre-empting potential backlash, he added: ‘You’re not allowed to say that anymore, however. As a politician, please, please, let me take it back. Any time a politician says a woman is beautiful, that’s generally the end of his political career in the modern-day political world.’

Donald Trump called Sophie Cunningham a ‘beautiful young woman’ at a rally in Ohio

Cunningham has been dubbed the ‘MAGA Barbie’ but has never said she is a Trump supporter

But smiling, he then said: ‘But Sophie is a beautiful young woman. You probably wouldn’t find her on the team, not to help you with points, but to help you with attendance. Attendance would be great.’  

Trump faced immediate criticism for his comments online, as one user tagged Cunningham and wrote: ‘he just said you suck at basketball but are nice to look at….totally normal.’

Another said: ‘Lmao this is such a brutal and creepy backhanded “compliment”’ and a further post commented: ‘Such a disgusting thing to say.’

A host of observers branded Trump a ‘creep’ for his comments as another remarked: ‘Sophie Cunningham, regardless of her political views, should be disgusted that the president said her only value to her team is her looks and not her ability on the court.’

Missouri native Cunningham has been dubbed ‘MAGA Barbie’ online in the past and that narrative has only increased since speaking of her desire to ‘protect young girls’ in women’s sports in an ESPN interview earlier this year.

That policy is something that has very much been pushed by Trump and his administration, but Cunningham has publicly dismissed theories about her political beliefs.  

‘I’m very much in the middle,’ she said this year. ‘I agree with things on both sides, disagree with things on both sides. And that’s all I’ve ever said about my political beliefs. But people love to assume.’

She was asked about her ‘MAGA Barbie’ nickname and assumptions over being a Trump supporter in an interview with The New York Times last year.

Cunningham and the Indiana Fever’s season ended in the first round of the WNBA Playoffs

Cunningham has previously insisted her political beliefs are ‘in the middle’ despite her image

‘I’m clearly white and from Missouri, and so I think there was a lot of assumption there,’ Cunningham said.

‘All I have to say is I really am right in the middle, and I think a lot of America is like that. 

‘In our culture today you have to choose and you have to be an extremist, and that’s just not me. So I agree with things on both sides; I disagree with things on both sides.’