Jeb Bush equates Donald Trump to Barack Obama, offers to unify the country

In Iowa on Monday, Jeb Bush equated Donald Trump to President Obama, inferring that both men make inflammatory statements in order to cause divisions.

"Whether it's Donald Trump or Barack Obama, their rhetoric of divisiveness is wrong," the GOP presidential candidate said, according to a statement issued by his campaign Tuesday. "On our side, there are people that prey on people's fears and their angst as well. I don't know about you, but I think it is wrong. I believe we need to unify our country. We need to stop tearing, separating ourselves by race and ethnicity and income. We need to focus on what ties us together." He said he's certain a Republican "can win, and will win, if we have an aspirational message that gives people hope that their lives will be better when we apply conservative principles the right way."

The White House had no comment, but Pablo Manriquez, a Democratic Party spokesman, told NBC News: "That Bush is willing to equate Trump to Obama, the most consequential president of my lifetime, is disgusting. How can we take anything Bush has to say seriously when he says hogwash like this."

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