CHICAGO — Well, that was unexpected.

Former President Donald Trump praised his predecessor Barack Obama and former first lady Michelle Obama Tuesday ahead of the pair’s speech at the convention.

“I think he’s a nice gentleman, but he was very weak on trade. If you take a look at what happened to our country trade-wise, it was a disaster,” Trump told CNN.

“I happen to like him. I respect him and I respect his wife.”

Trump had been the poster child for promoting the birtherism conspiracy theories against Obama and has occasionally lashed out against him.

Obama’s skewering of Trump at the 2011 White House Correspondents’ Dinner has been rumored to be one of the 45th president’s inspirations to run for president.