Samantha Nelson

USA TODAY

Over the weekend, Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump defended Roger Ailes, the former chairman and CEO of Fox News who resigned from his position Thursday amid allegations of sexual harassment.

On Showtime’s The Circus, Trump called Ailes a “great guy” and lauded him for his achievements in media. “Roger is – I mean, what he’s done on television, in the history of television, he’s gotta be placed in the top three or four or five," Trump said, adding that his resignation is “too bad.”

Roger Ailes steps down as Fox News CEO

During his appearance on NBC's Meet the Press on Sunday, Trump noted that many of the women who have accused Ailes were also helped by the former Fox News leader in the past.

“Some of the women that are complaining, I know how much he's helped them,” he said. “Now all of a sudden, they are saying these horrible things about him; it's very sad because he's a very good person."

Trump said that the media mogul had been a friend of his "for a long time." When asked if Ailes was helping Trump's campaign, Trump declined to comment but noted that many "are thinking he’s going to run my campaign.”

On July 6, Ailes was sued by Gretchen Carlson, a former Fox & Friends co-host, over claims of sexual harassment. New York magazine reported that more than a dozen women have contacted Carlson’s attorney with detailed sexual allegations against Ailes over a 25-year period.

While several female broadcasters spoke out in support of Ailes during the controversy, Fox News broadcaster Megyn Kelly stayed silent until she also told investigators that Ailes had harassed her too.

Trump and Kelly have a particularly heated history with one another. During the first Republican debate in August 2015, she asked Trump about comments he had made toward women. Following the debate Trump blasted Kelly on Twitter and was thought to have implied Kelly was menstruating during the debate.

Roger Ailes' exit may help all sexual harassment victims

The two put their differences aside when they met up earlier this year, which aired during a special called Megyn Kelly Presents on May 17. Trump said a feud could still happen between them in the future.

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