Trump regrets being ‘too rough’ on Jeb Bush

by Mark Hensch - 06/19/15 3:31 PM ET

GOP presidential candidate Donald Trump says he was too critical of former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush during his formal campaign launch earlier this week.

Trump says he now regrets swinging so hard at Bush, a 2016 White House rival, during his own campaign kickoff Tuesday from New York City’s Trump Tower.

“I actually saw myself a couple of days ago, and I said, ‘That’s, that’s too rough,’ ” Trump told host Jake Tapper in an interview airing Sunday on CNN’s “State of the Union.”

{mosads}“I really think he’s a nice man; I think he’s a wonderful man,” he said.

“I actually felt bad because I hit him very hard one day like two days ago, three days ago, and I said, ‘Why am I hitting him so hard?’ ”

But even though he has admiration for Bush, Trump still does not think the former Florida governor qualifies for the White House.

He said battling the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) was one area where he would outperform Bush if elected to the executive mansion next year.

“I don’t know if I want him negotiating with ISIS,” Trump said of Bush.

“I think Trump will do a lot better,” he told Tapper, adding that the Bush campaign takes him “very seriously.” “You think so, too, but you’re not going to say it.”

Trump entered the GOP 2016 field one day after Bush, who launched his campaign Monday in Miami.

The New York business mogul sharply criticized Bush during his own announcement Tuesday.

“I don’t see how he can get the nomination,” Trump said, according to CNN.

“He’s weak on immigration, and he supports Common Core,” he added. “How the hell can you vote for this guy?”

Trump also touted aggressive jobs creation as part of his political platform during his speech Tuesday.

“I will be the greatest jobs president God ever created, I can tell you that,” he said.

Trump previously teased a 2012 presidential campaign before deciding against it.

He has vowed that his run next election cycle will “make America great again.”

Tags Donald Trump Jeb Bush