The Hill News

If Donald Trump became more active in the Republican Party it would help ideologically grow the base, former New Mexico Gov. Gary Johnson (R) said Thursday.

"Republicans have to grow the base. Donald Trump ought to bring maybe part of that along," Johnson said on ABC's "Top Line."

Trump, the media icon and real estate mogul, was very recently added to the schedule at the Conservative Political Action Conference that began Thursday.

Trump has said he is considering running for president and he will make an announcement if he decides to in the early half of this year.

Johnson himself has hinted that he might jump into the upcoming presidential race. On "Top Line," he said that if a candidate like him were to run, "hypothetically," that candidate would have to announce soon.