After his surprising endorsement of Donald Trump, former candidate Ben Carson said Wednesday that he understands why Trump attacked him during his campaign, even calling him a child molester, saying “it did work.”

Yahoo News and Finance Anchor Bianna Golodryga asked Carson what he thought of some of Trump’s more vicious attacks against him during his time in the 2016 race, citing when Trump insulted Carson’s intelligence and questioning whether or not he was a child molester. The retired neurosurgeon chalked it up to politics.

“He said it was political, he was concerned about the fact that he couldn’t shake me,” Carson said. “I understand, you know, politics, and particularly the politics of personal distraction. You have to admit to some degree that it did work. A lot of people believed him.”

Golodryga asked if this type of attack should become the norm and if, by Carson’s logic, she should teach her son to do the same as Trump did.

“It shouldn’t become status quo,” Carson said. “But neither should always retaliating.”