President Barack Obama told "Tonight Show" host Jimmy Fallon Wednesday that Bernie Sanders had made Hillary Clinton better prepared to face Donald Trump in the fall.
"It was a healthy thing for the Democratic Party to have a contested primary," the president told Fallon in an episode to air Wednesday night,
The Washington Examiner reports. "I thought that Bernie Sanders brought enormous energy and new ideas.
"He pushed the party and challenged them. I thought it made Hillary a better candidate.
"I think she is whip-smart," Obama added. "She is tough."
The president is scheduled to meet privately with Sanders Thursday — and the White House has said that Obama would not make an endorsement until after they have met, according to the report.
Obama also told Fallon that he expected the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia next month not be contested.
"There's a natural process of everybody recognizing that this is not about any individual; but this is about the country and the direction we're gonna take it," the president said. "I think we're gonna have a great convention and we'll do well."
Regarding Trump, Obama slammed the presumptive Republican nominee indirectly in explaining his role once he hits the campaign trail: "to remind the American people that this is a serious job.
"This is not reality TV."
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