Trump congratulated by Republicans who ‘rejected’ him

US President-elect Donald Trump has received congratulatory phone calls from leading Republicans who had previously withheld support or denounced the business mogul’s run for the country’s highest office.

Trump aide Kellyanne Conway said on Sunday the president-elect has spoken with his three former rivals for the GOP nomination — Ohio Governor John Kasich, Carly Fiorina and former Florida Governor Jeb Bush,

Trump said he also spoke to former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney, the 2012 GOP nominee for president, as well as former Presidents George W. Bush and George H.W. Bush.

Jeb Bush had been one of Trump’s most fervent critics but Conway said that in the phone call, Bush “was incredibly gracious, congratulating Trump and his victory and wishing him well as president”.

Trump has spent his weekend in Trump Tower in New York City preparing to make some of his most critical staffing decisions as president-elect.