Republican presidential front-runner Donald Trump Donald John TrumpHR McMaster says president's policy to withdraw troops from Afghanistan is 'unwise' Cast of 'Parks and Rec' reunite for virtual town hall to address Wisconsin voters Biden says Trump should step down over coronavirus response MORE on Sunday said former primary rival Jeb Bush would have fared better in the presidential race four years ago.

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“Jeb fought very hard,” Trump said on CNN’s “State of the Union.” “It wasn’t his time, that’s all — he’s a very capable person. It wasn’t his time.”

“You know, four years ago, I think he would have won,” he added. “Although, it would have been – with Mitt [Romney] and him — it would have been a good contest. But this was not really his time.”

Bush dropped out of the race on Saturday after a disappointing fourth-place finish in the South Carolina primary.

Trump, who accused Bush’s brother, former President George W. Bush, of lying about the Iraq invasion, said he did not want the race to be a referendum on the Bush family’s legacy of public service.

“I hope not, because it shouldn’t be,” he said. “It wasn’t meant to be.”

“And, you know, I know the family,” he added. “My son knows his son, and my son Eric knows his son, Jeb’s son, and he says he’s an incredible young man. And, you know, it was really just not his time."