Donald Trump leads standing ovation for Hillary and Bill Clinton

'There’s nothing more I can say because I have a lot of respect for those two people'

Donald Trump shakes hands with Hillary Clinton during the Inaugural luncheon at the National Statuary Hall in Washington on January 20, 2017. (Yuri Gripas/Reuters)

Donald Trump lead a standing ovation for Hillary and Bill Clinton at his inaugural luncheon Friday afternoon.

“There is something that I wanted to say: Because I was very honored – very, very honored – when I heard that President Bill Clinton and Secretary Hillary Clinton was coming today. I think it’s appropriate to say... I’d like you to stand up. I’d like you to stand up.”

As the room broke into a nearly 30-second ovation, the new president gave a thumbs up and said, “Honestly, There’s nothing more I can say because I have a lot of respect for those two people.”

The gesture might be a surprise to some, considering the misogynistic attacks Mr Trump hurled at Ms Clinton while the two campaigned in the presidential race. Over the course of the election he questioned her mental strength and physical stamina, said she didn’t have a “presidential look,”claimed that she was “schlonged” in a debate, and retweeting then deleting tweets that questioned if she can satisfy her husband.

He also infamously promised to prosecute and jail her over her use of a private email server during her time as secretary of state. At one point in the campaign, he began calling her “crooked” and described her as a “nasty woman” in the third and final presidential debate.