Trump: Kamala Harris 'out of the can'; Jimmy Carter 'good man,' but 'a terrible Democrat

Credit: Susan Walsh/Associated Press

Credit: Susan Walsh/Associated Press

After Donald Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping agreed to reopen trade negotiations in their meeting at the G20 summit Saturday, the President held a news conference and touched on a variety of topics, including the Democratic debates, criticism from former President Jimmy Carter and the possibility of meeting North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.

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Trump,asked about Sen. Kamala Harris' criticism of former Vice President Joe Biden's comments about working with segregationists and his opposition to federally mandated busing in the 1970s, said the California senator's comments at the Democratic debate Thursday night were contrived and "out of the can."

“She was given too much credit (after the debate) for what she said,” Trump said. “It was so out of the can,”

Asked if Harris would be a formidable opponent if she won the Democratic nomination for president in 2020, Trump said “you never know.”

>> Democratic debates: 5 memorable moments from Thursday's matchup

“You never know who’s gonna be tough,” he said. “Sometimes the ones I thought would be the toughest, weren’t the toughest.

On Friday, Carter said he believed Trump would have lost the 2016 election without Russian help.

Saturday, Trump called Carter “a nice man,” but “a terrible Democrat.”

“I was surprised he’d make a statement like that,” Trump said. “He’s been trashed by his own party.

“He was not a good president. Look what happened in Iraq, they tied him up in knots.”

>> Jimmy Carter: Trump won election because of Russian help

Trump, who is flying to South Korea after the G20 summit, said he was open to a meeting with Kim.

"Kim Jong Un was very receptive," Trump told reporters. "He responded, so we'll see."

Trump said he would feel "very comfortable" crossing the border into North Korea if he and Kim meet at the demilitarized zone.

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