Donald Trump embraced his status as the presumptive GOP presidential nominee on Tuesday by complimenting Sen. Ted Cruz after the Texas Republican dropped out of the race and focused his attacks on Democratic front-runner Hillary Clinton.  

“Ted Cruz, I don’t know if he likes me or if he doesn’t like me, but he is one hell of a competitor,” Trump said, adding, “He has got an amazing future.”  

Cruz, with a series of disparaging remarks earlier Tuesday, made it clear he doesn’t like Trump. When announcing that he was suspending his campaign, Cruz didn’t congratulate Trump or offer to help him win the general election.  

[Related: Cruz Suspends Campaign After Indiana Loss]

Despite Cruz’s reservation, Trump said he’s already starting to get offers of support from people who had previously bashed him.  

“People who have said the worst things about me … they’re calling now,” Trump said.  

“I actually spoke to one today who was vicious,” Trump added, not naming the person but noting that he as a politician expressed no reservation about switching his position from one of opposition to support.  

Trump also noted that he spoke with Republican National Committee Chair Reince Priebus Tuesday night. Priebus called Trump the presumptive GOP nominee in a tweet.  

Trump reserved the attacks in his speech for Clinton, expressing optimism that he can beat her in the November general election.  

“We’re going after Hillary Clinton,” he said. “She will not be a great president. She will not be a good president. She will be a poor president.”  

Clinton has been campaigning in West Virginia, where she’s been greeted by protesters in coal mining towns where hundreds of people have lost their jobs. A few months ago, she made a comment about putting coal miners out of work.  

“We’re going to get those miners back to work. We’re not going to be Hillary Clinton,” Trump said, noting he plans to campaign in West Virginia soon.  

Contact McPherson at lindseymcpherson@rollcall.com and follow her on Twitter @lindsemcpherson.

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