Story highlights Donald Trump has been asked about the Clintons for decades

He used to have a rosier opinion of the political power couple

(CNN) Republican presidential front-runner Donald Trump has been asked about his potential Democratic opponent Hillary Clinton repeatedly throughout his presidential bid.

But a deep dive into the CNN archives shows that he's been regularly answering questions about Clinton and her husband, former President Bill Clinton, since at least the 1990s.

Trump has openly talked about the Clintons attending his 2005 wedding to Melania Knauss. At a presidential debate last August, Trump said Clinton had no choice but to attend because he had donated to the Clinton Foundation.

But his rhetoric toward the Clintons used to be much softer. Of Hillary he has said she is a "fantastic woman." He called Bill Clinton "a quality guy." He's called both of the Clintons "terrific" and good friends of his.

Compare that to his recent campaign rhetoric. In the last year he has called Hillary Clinton "a joke" and "terrible." Earlier this year he called Bill Clinton "one of the great abusers of the world."

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