Former GOP Rep. David Jolly (Fla.) on Wednesday ripped President Trump’s statement that he could be one of the most "presidential" presidents, saying during an interview that the nation's leaders have to earn the description.

“He’s missing the lessons of history, and I suppose it was kind of him to exempt Abraham Lincoln from his declaration, but Alisyn, listen, those we consider presidential have earned it, not declared it,” Jolly told CNN’s Alisyn Camerota on “New Day.”

ADVERTISEMENT

“FDR, JFK during the Cuban missile crisis, Reagan in Berlin. Trump on the other hand, as we have seen repeatedly, continues to engage in self-promotion, suggesting he is above accountability, and obviously in the division through insults and through his Twitter feed,” he continued.

The former GOP congressman was responding to remarks made by Trump at a rally in Youngstown, Ohio, late Tuesday.

“It’s much easier to act presidential than what we’re doing here tonight, believe me,” Trump said.

“With the exception of the late, great Abraham Lincoln, I can be more presidential than any president that has ever held this office,” he continued.

Jolly on Wednesday went onto say the president’s temperament could prevent him from uniting the country in a time of crisis.

“In moments of national crisis, in moments of national decision, I don’t believe this president has actually positioned himself to actually be on to unite the country,” Jolly said. “There will come a time when that matters when we do need to unite under his leadership, and I don’t know that we’re there yet.”

A recent ABC News/Washington Post poll showed that 70 percent of Americans said they think Trump’s actions since taking office have not been presidential.