Donald Trump Friday morning poked fun at George Clooney for
his declaration that he'll never become president, but agreed with him that networks' ratings do go up when he makes his appearances.
"As far as George Clooney is concerned, let's put it this way — he's no Cary Grant," Trump told
Fox News' "Fox and Friends" program, one day after Clooney said the New Yorker's success is a result of the fact that "much of the news programs didn't follow up and ask tough questions, and because he stokes fear.
"The ratings go up because they can show an empty podium and say Donald Trump is about to speak," Clooney said during
an interview from the Cannes Film Festival, where he is promoting his new film, "Money Monster."
Trump, though, told the show during an early-morning telephone interview that he believes he gets asked "the toughest questions on Earth. I mean, I will tell you, nobody asks tougher questions than they do to me. Or that's all gotcha. Even you guys every once in awhile get awfully tough, but that's okay."
Meanwhile, Trump said there have been others, like former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, who doubted his ability to win.
"Jeb Bush said I'll never be the nominee and Jeb Bush is right now sitting home watching television and, you know, he also signed a pledge," said Trump. "And he's dishonoring the pledge [to endorse the eventual GOP nominee] so he's a dishonorable guy."
But Trump said another former opponent, South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham, called him this week, and was "very nice" and "we had a nice talk. I was surprised, but he was very nice. We talked on national security."
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Sandy Fitzgerald ✉
Sandy Fitzgerald has more than three decades in journalism and serves as a general assignment writer for Newsmax covering news, media, and politics.