Former Speaker Newt Gingrich (R-Ga.) gave a forceful defense of Donald Trump Donald John TrumpUS reimposes UN sanctions on Iran amid increasing tensions Jeff Flake: Republicans 'should hold the same position' on SCOTUS vacancy as 2016 Trump supporters chant 'Fill that seat' at North Carolina rally MORE on Thursday, calling the presumptive GOP presidential nominee “totally virtuous” compared with Bill and Hillary Clinton Hillary Diane Rodham ClintonJeff Flake: Republicans 'should hold the same position' on SCOTUS vacancy as 2016 Momentum growing among Republicans for Supreme Court vote before Election Day Warning signs flash for Lindsey Graham in South Carolina MORE.

After huddling with Trump surrogates on Capitol Hill, Gingrich scoffed at reporters for asking whether Trump needed to apologize for leveling racial attacks on a Mexican-American federal judge — remarks that even Gingrich a few days earlier had characterized as “inexcusable” and a major campaign blunder.

ADVERTISEMENT

“Compared to Bill and Hillary Clinton, no. Give me a break. The ability of the news media to step past the Clinton Foundation, past the Clinton emails, past all of the continuous lying by the Clintons and say, ‘Boy, Donald Trump has a real problem,’ ” Gingrich said outside the Capitol Hill Club. “No, Donald Trump, compared to Hillary Clinton, is totally virtuous.

“Hillary Clinton’s entire career is hiding behind lawyers and lying, from the Rose law firm and Whitewater to today,” the former Speaker added. “The news media’s one-sided view of Trump, I think, will blow up on them. The media likely to be in real trouble this fall because the average American will learn how totally prejudiced it is.”

Gingrich, a failed presidential candidate in 2012, has been floated as a possible Trump running mate. But he said he had no desire to be vice president.

“I’m interested in trying to be helpful,” Gingrich said, adding, “I’m not part of the official organization.”

Gingrich’s remarks came after an impromptu 20-minute meeting with Trump surrogates at the Capitol Hill Club, next to the GOP’s national headquarters.

During that private gathering, Gingrich told the roomful of supporters that he “hopes the candidate learns” from his mistakes “and will become disciplined,” said one lawmaker who attended.

But the former Speaker’s pep talk was short, and he didn’t go into detail about how exactly Trump could improve.

Gingrich hadn’t been scheduled as the guest speaker at the weekly Trump meeting. He had been talking about space policy down the hall with House Science and Technology Chairman Lamar Smith (R-Texas) when the congressman asked him to say hello to Trump backers next door.

The former Speaker later told reporters he would like to hear Trump talk more about economic growth, national security and boosting infrastructure — areas in which he believes Trump is stronger than presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton.

Gingrich, a political foe of former President Bill Clinton William (Bill) Jefferson ClintonDolly Parton remembers Ginsburg: 'Her voice was soft but her message rang loud' Sunday shows preview: Justice Ginsburg dies, sparking partisan battle over vacancy before election Calls grow for Biden to expand election map in final sprint MORE during the 1990s, has been telling fellow Republicans that it’s way too early to start panicking about Trump. Some, including conservative talk radio host Hugh Hewitt, have suggested dropping him at the Republican National Convention in Cleveland next month.

“Ronald Reagan, who won the largest Electoral College vote against an incumbent in history, was in trouble in August,” Gingrich explained. “Remember, Trump is learning to be a candidate. Nobody has ever done what Trump has done, come from completely outside, never run for office. He beat 16 pretty competent people. At least eight of those people could have been president. And now he is having to learn how to be a general election candidate.

“Everybody who tells me, ‘Boy, Trump’s in real trouble.’ Those are the people who told you last year he couldn’t be nominated,” Gingrich continued. “They’ve been consistently wrong, so I just laugh at them.”