CAMEROTA: Did you see Donald Trump's tweet after your speech?

BOOKER: I did. I did.

CAMEROTA: So, we'll put it up on the screen. Donald Trump tweeted, and said something to the effect of, "I know Cory Booker better than he knows himself" or something. "If Cory Booker is the future of the Democratic Party, then they have no future. I know more about Cory than he knows about himself."

CUOMO: What has he got on you?

BOOKER: Well, let me tell you right now. I love Donald Trump. I'm going to say that.

CAMEROTA: What?

BOOKER: I don't want to answer his hate with hate; I answer it with love. I'm not going to answer his darkness with darkness. I love him. I know his kids; I know his family. They're good — the children especially — good people. And this is the problem that he has, is that he wants — first of all, I feel lucky because he was attacking everybody else in the Senate, from John McCain to Elizabeth Warren. I was feeling left out. Now he's finally got — thank you, Donald. I finally feel like I'm important enough that you will attack and demean —

CUOMO: But when you read that and he says — what else can that mean? "I know Cory Booker better than he knows himself." What is that supposed to mean to you.

BOOKER: That's what he wants — he wants us to be speculating. Ooh, it sounds so sinister.

CUOMO: It does.

BOOKER: I don't care. I love you, Donald. I pray for you. I hope that you find some kindness in your heart that you're not going to be somebody that spews out insults to your political opposition, that you're going to start finding some ways to love. I'm going to elevate him. I love you. I just don't want you to be my president. I don't want you to have the White House to be spewing that kind of mean-spirited hate. It belongs — it doesn't even belong in a playground sandbox. The reality is, I'm sorry, I'm just going to keep loving on him. I'm going to tell the truth about him. But I'm going to keep loving on him, praying for best for him and his family. That kind of vitriol, that kind of meanness, has no place in the presidency. Bring it on, Donald. Show your truth. I'm going to show mine. Love you, brother.