Former President Bill Clinton, husband of the current Democratic presidential frontrunner, spoke by phone to Donald Trump, the Republican frontrunner, before Trump's June announcement,
The Washington Post reports.
Associates to both Clinton and Trump have confirmed the call occurred in late May, though no specific date was given, according to the Post. The sources also said Trump's presidential campaign was not discussed.
The Post notes that revelations of the call come as
Trump has faced criticism for his ties to Democrats. Trump has admitted to donating to Democrats and Republicans, but says those donations were made essentially because he runs so many businesses and wanted to ensure they were treated fairly.
He has donated to Hillary Clinton's Senate campaigns and to the Clinton Foundation.
Trump says he would seek to end such practices if elected and notes that because of his own personal wealth he doesn't need to rely on rich donors to fund his campaign.
Trump took Clinton's call at his Trump Tower office in Manhattan, according to the Post.
"Mr. Trump reached out to President Clinton a few times. President Clinton returned his call in late May," the Post quoted a Clinton employee. "While we don’t make it a practice to discuss the president’s private conversations, we can tell you that the presidential race was not discussed."
According Trump allies, Clinton "listened intently and then analyzed Trump’s prospects and his desire to rouse the GOP base," the Post reported.
Clinton never urged Trump to run, his allies told the Post. Instead, the Clinton sounded curious about Trump's moves toward a run and told Trump he was striking a chord with frustrated conservatives.
Neither the Trump nor the Hillary Clinton campaigns commented on the story.
Though Trump has had a friendly relationship with the Clintons in the past — they attended his third wedding 10 years ago — he and Hillary Clinton have sparred now that each is leading in the polls of their respective parties.
Hillary Clinton has criticized Trump for his statements about illegal Mexican immigrants in his July 16 announcement and when he said during a candidate forum that Republican Sen. John McCain was not a war hero.
Trump has taken Clinton on only in recent weeks, attacking her only after he perceived her attacking him. That's much the way he has treated his rivals within the GOP.
"Wow, it’s pretty pathetic that Hillary Clinton just blamed me for the horrendous attack that took place in South Carolina," he wrote on Instagram. " This is why politicians are just no good. Our country’s in trouble."
He also tweeted about her on Wednesday:
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