William Cummings

USA TODAY

Bernie Sanders owes Donald Trump a big thank you for his success against Hillary Clinton — according to Trump anyway.

Clinton has been reeling since Trump "really hit her" two months ago after she accused him of sexism, the bombastic billionaire told Sean Hannity in an interview Monday alongside his wife, Melania Trump.

"Bernie got all the credit because she went down and all of the sudden he started doing well," Trump said. "You know when I did that two months ago she went right down."

Trump said he has to "take a little credit" because Sanders has won several primaries recently and is polling well in Wisconsin.

The GOP front-runner may be playing a little fast and loose with the concept of cause and effect here, as it seems unlikely Democratic voters were greatly swayed by his "hits" on Clinton.

Trump was perhaps referring to an exchange at the end of December when Clinton said he "demonstrated a penchant for sexism." Trump responded by saying "I have great respect for women" and that Bill Clinton was actually the one with the "demonstrated penchant for sexism."

Melania Trump — who also gave a rare speech during a Wisconsin campaign event Monday — agreed with her husband's assessment.

"He is the man," she said. "He respects women. He hires women in the highest positions."

"He is the one that will take care of them," she added.

Trump also hinted that he has a nasty nickname ready to roll out against Clinton — à la "Little Marco" and "Lyin' Ted" — but he doesn't want to unveil it until after he vanquishes his two remaining GOP rivals.

When asked about his strategy to take on Clinton, Trump said it was too early to focus on her. "I don't even know if she'll be the nominee yet," he said.

Whether Trump's Clinton criticisms carry Sanders to the Democratic nomination, or Clinton weathers Trump's tweets to become the nominee, the Trumps themselves are sure to suffer their own share of attacks in the months ahead.

Bring them on, Melania Trump says.

"We have a thick skin," she said. "Life is not a bowl of cherries."