First, I am not so sure he was trying to compare himself to Reagan here.
Second, if he was trying to use a Reagan reference to himself, it is just bait to drive us crazy. It is best to ignore it and move on.
You said, “It is best to ignore it and move on.”
Yes, I agree. And, yes I heard him say it and felt “offended”. Perhaps he read the line in the book he was reading. Or, we could take it as a compliment.