Story highlights Newt Gingrich praised Donald Trump for his growing political skills

The former House speaker is potential running mate for the presumptive Republican nominee

(CNN) Days after slamming Donald Trump's comments about U.S. District Judge Gonzalo Curiel as "inexcusable," former House Speaker Newt Gingrich stood by the presumptive Republican presidential nominee and called him a "gifted amateur."

Gingrich said Wednesday in an interview with CNN that he believes Trump has made "the kinds of mistakes that amateurs make," but that he is also "learning very, very fast."

"He's learned from it in the last two days and has taken very significant steps away from that and moved toward a more controlled, more civil approach," Gingrich said. "This is what he'll need to win the presidency."

Gingrich forcefully pushed back on reports of his remarks earlier in the day at a conference in California, in which he used the words "absurd amateur" in discussing Trump.

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