The Hill News

House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) is doing a "good job" in leading budget negotiations, Donald Trump said Monday.

Trump, the real estate mogul and reality TV star who's toying with the idea of running for the Republican presidential nomination, heaped praise on Boehner and Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Wis.), the chairman of the House Budget Committee, and the author of Republicans' 2012 budget cutting $4 trillion over the next 10 years.

"I think Boehner's doing a good job, but he's trying to get the best number he can," Trump said in a new, weekly segment on Fox News.

Boehner's been under siege from conservatives within the GOP, who accuse him of being too willing to strike a compromise that would cut around $33 billion from the budget the rest of thi! s year. That's tens of billions less than the initial cuts approved by House Republicans in December.

Boehner's leading negotiations to reach an agreement with Senate Democrats and the White House on the spending measure before Friday's deadline, at which point the government would run out of money and shut down.

The Republicans looking to possibly run for president in 2012 could either give the Speaker political cover, or encourage rebel conservatives to fell the plan with their reactions, if an agreement is reached this week. Already, former House Speaker Newt Ginrich (R) has chided GOP leaders, and argued they should be more bold in pursuing cuts.

Trump didn't say spe! cifically whether he would support a $33 billion cuts package,! only ca lling it "a very important one, symbolically." Trump did say, though, that he hopes House Republicans reach a deal to avoid a shutdown.

Rather, the "Apprentice" host said, the real money would come through Ryan's budget.

"The really big one's going to be what Paul Ryan -- who I think is also a terrific guy, just absolutely terrific, what he's trying to do -- that's the long-term picture," Trump said, later adding: "Because as much as $33 billion is, the real number that you're looking at -- you're looking at trillions and trillions of dollars."