Trump in 2008: Clinton is 'fantastic'

During a political discussion with Fox Business News's Neil Cavuto in January of that year, just as the primary votes began, Trump praised Clinton when asked about his previous donations to her Senate bid. 

 

Trump donated to both Clinton's campaign and then-Republican front-runner Rudy Giuliani's during those presidential primaries. Once Sen. John McCainJohn McCainTrump in 2008: Clinton is 'fantastic' Meghan McCain: ‘When Hillary makes mistakes, people die’ Poor polling highlights Trump challenges in swing states MORE's (R-Ariz.) grip on the GOP nomination became clear, Trump sent money to his campaign, too. 

 

"I support Hillary, I think she's fantastic," Trump said of those donations.   

 

"I supported Rudy, I think [Mitt] Romney is doing a very good job. Every one of them, these are very different candidates." 

 

Trump wouldn't say who he wanted to win the presidency, although Buzzfeed notes that he said in 2007 said he wanted Clinton to win the Democratic nomination that year. When asked about similar comments years later, the billionaire chalked it up to good business and wanting to stay on the right side of both political parties for his business interests. 

 

As the interview went on, Trump also praised McCain's comeback from a rough start to his presidential bid — years before he drew the ire of the GOP for criticizing him for being captured during the Vietnam War. 

 

"I like him, he's tough, he's smart, and he made an unbelievable comeback that very few people could've have done, and you have to respect that," he said. 

 

Trump also swatted down a future presidential bid of his own, noting that he's "too honest" to run for president. 

 

"I like speaking my mind. I'll give you an example: if I were president, you'd have $30 oil right now. I would call up Saudi Arabia and say, 'That [expletive] price is coming down, and it's coming down now,'" he said.