McConnell: Trump ‘very cordial’ to me

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) says Donald Trump has been polite with him, even as the GOP presidential front-runner’s controversial comments make headlines.

“He’s never said anything caustic about me, and he was very cordial,” McConnell told a local Kentucky radio station on Thursday. 

{mosads}His comments come after he told reporters earlier this month that he had a “good conversation” with Trump. McConnell had said he urged Trump to denounce violence at his campaign events. 

Asked if he had talked to Trump, he added Thursday, “He called me. He does from time to time.”

Trump’s insults of other politicians and pundits have frequently made headlines and driven media coverage. Most recently, he’s been locked in a back-and-forth with fellow presidential candidate Ted Cruz after Trump threatened to “spill the beans” on Cruz’s wife.

Asked if he had talked with Cruz, McConnell suggested that he sees the Texas senator when he’s in Washington and that “there’s no particular strain.”

Cruz was accused of violating Senate rules last year when he called McConnell a “liar” during a fiery speech on the floor. 

The Senate Republican leader has largely avoided weighing in on the presidential race as he defends 24 Senate seats going into the November election. He has repeatedly declined to answer questions during a weekly press conference, telling reporters that he doesn’t get off message.

On Thursday, McConnell dismissed Trumps speculation that there will be riots if he enters the convention with the most delegates but doesn’t get the nomination.

“Oh, look, he’s an interesting man, but I think we need to quit talking about riots,” he said.