Donald Trump praises Clinton as 'very strong and smart'

In the interview excerpts of which were aired yesterday, he heaped praise upon Clinton and former President Bill Clinton, who was often the target of his attack as well.

Washington, Nov 13 Leaving behind the bitterness of the election campaign, US President-elect Donald Trump has praised Hillary Clinton whom he defeated in shocking poll results, calling the former secretary of state as "very strong and smart."

In a television interview after Tuesday's win, Trump described Clinton, whom he had threatened to jail for unspecified crimes of corruption, as "very strong and very smart" and full of grace and decency.

In the interview excerpts of which were aired yesterday, he heaped praise upon Clinton and former President Bill Clinton, who was often the target of his attack as well. Trump said he received a very "lovely call" from Clinton after she lost the election.

"Hillary called, and it was a lovely call, and it was a tough call for her, I mean, I can imagine. Tougher for her than it would have been for me. I mean, for me, it would have been very, very difficult. She couldn't have been nicer," he said. With wife Melania and his four oldest children by his side, Trump described the phone call as incredibly pleasant and genial.

"She couldn't have been nicer. She just said, 'Congratulations, Donald, well done. And I said, 'I want to thank you very much, you were a great competitor. She is very strong and very smart," he said.

The 70-year-old President-elect was also all praise for Clinton's husband, who called him after the poll results, describing him as very talented.

"He could not have been more gracious. He said it was an amazing run. One of the most amazing he’s ever seen. He was very, very, really, very nice," Trump said.

"Well, he’s a very talented guy, I mean, this is a very talented family," said the President-elect. For the past several months, Trump had attacked the two and even going to the extent of appointing a special prosecutor against Clinton.

During the interview, Trump also indicated that he would keep certain provisions of the Obamacare, which would benefit the people of the country including coverage of people with pre-conditions and extended coverage of children living with parents. “"Yes. Because it happens to be one of the strongest assets," he said in response to a question.

"We’re going to repeal it and replace it. And we’re not going to have, like, a two-day period and we’re not going to have a two-year period where there’s nothing. It will be repealed and replaced. I mean, you’ll know. And it’ll be great health care for much less money," Trump said.

PTI