Senator Ted Cruz, R-Texas, Friday said many potential GOP presidential candidates will decide against running if Donald Trump seeks reelection.
“I’m sure it clears it out significantly,” Cruz said about Trump possibly running again in 2024. “We’ll see what happens. Look, the lay of the land is everyone is waiting to see what Trump decides to do.”
“Anyone who tells you they’re not is lying to you,” Cruz added. “And he’s going to decide on whatever time frame he desires.”
The Texas Republican was the first candidate from his party to announce he was running for president, kickstarting the presidential primary on March 23, 2015. Donald Trump, best known at the time as a real estate mogul and star of “Apprentice,” entered the presidential race June 16, 2015.
The ranks of GOP presidential wannabes swelled to 17 major candidates before being whittled down to Ted Cruz, John Kasich and Donald Trump. Then-candidate Donald Trump spared none of his opponents, appealing to many supporters with his pugnacious, in-your-face style that signaled he wanted it more than all the others.
Trump repeatedly referred to Cruz as “lying Ted” on the campaign trail and suggested the Texan’s father was linked to JFK’s assassination.
“This man is a pathological liar,” he said after Trump made that claim.
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Later during the campaign, Cruz blamed Trump for a National Enquirer report alleging the Texas senator had extramarital affairs, which Cruz denied vehemently as “garbage, complete and utter lies.”
Soon after, an image mocking Melania Trump was blamed on the Cruz campaign and candidate Trump threatened retaliation and to “spill the beans” on Heidi Cruz.
“Pic of your wife not from us,” Cruz declared in a Twitter post. “Donald, if you try to attack Heidi, you’re more of a coward than I thought.”
The infighting between Cruz and Trump ended in May 2016 when he dropped out of the race. It probably prepared Trump for the bare-knuckled brawling style of political hijinks engineered by Democratic Hillary Clinton.
After Trump beat Clinton, like a red-headed stepchild he and Cruz became besties.
“I think he accomplished an enormous amount as president, and I was proud to work hand in hand with him in achieving results for the American people.” Cruz told Fox News Digital Friday.
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