- The Washington Times - Thursday, July 23, 2015

Businessman and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump said that while Jeb Bush is probably a nice guy, it’s the former Florida governor and 2016 rival who doesn’t have the proper temperament.

“In my opinion, when attacked, you have to, you know, defend and attack back, OK?” Mr. Trump told CNN. “I’m being attacked by certain people.”

“Actually, Bush — I think he’s probably a nice guy. I don’t think he has the temperament,” he said. “And by that, he is a nice guy, but he doesn’t have the temperament. You know why? He’s too low-key. He’s too laid-back. Can you imagine Bush negotiating with China? You want to talk about temperament — I’ll introduce you to the Chinese. They have temperament.”

“But can you imagine Bush negotiating trade deals with China?” he said.

Asked in the interview if he personally would change his tone as president, Mr. Trump said, “Oh, I think so.”

Mr. Bush said this week while campaigning in South Carolina that he respects the sentiments people feel when they hear Mr. Trump talk, but that the language Mr. Trump uses is divisive, ugly, and mean-spirited.

“If we embrace this language of divisiveness and ugliness, we’ll never win,” Mr. Bush said. “We’ll never win. We have to appeal to people’s higher aspirations, or we’ll lose elections over and over and over again.”

• David Sherfinski can be reached at dsherfinski@washingtontimes.com.

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