Libertarian Party presidential nominee Gary Johnson on Tuesday said likely GOP presidential nominee 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 is wrong for suggesting illegal immigrants represent the worst of their countries' populations.

“That isn’t true,” he told host Chris Cuomo on CNN’s “New Day." "No, absolutely untrue statistically. I don’t want to in any way defend the worst.

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“The people coming across are the people who just want jobs,” the former New Mexico governor added. "How about making a system where it would be easy to get a work visa?”

Trump fiercely criticized illegal immigration from Mexico upon launching his White House run in New York City last June.

“They’re sending people who have a lot of problems,” he said at Trump Tower. "They’re bringing drugs. They’re bringing crime. They’re rapists. And some, I assume, are good people.”

Johnson on Sunday won his party's nomination, potentially setting up a general election match-up with Trump.

He said Tuesday that his message of freedom from government interference is already drawing attacks from the billionaire’s campaign.

“I think they’ve already started coming,” Johnson said of Trump’s team.

Johnson added that his platform presents a middle ground for Americans dissatisfied with Trump and Democratic presidential front-runner 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.

“I think tens of millions of Americans have no idea what it means to be a libertarian,” he said. "How about the best of both worlds?

“[It’s] being fiscally conservative and socially liberal. My message doesn’t change based on which audience I’m in front of. Keep government out of our pocketbooks, keep government out of our bedrooms."