The bromance between Ted Cruz and Donald Trump may be over, and a media war between the two candidates looks to be ramping up. Trump’s tone towards Cruz has taken a dark turn after the Texas Senator made comments about the GOP frontrunner at a private event — in a recording which was leaked by the New York Times.
At the private event, which included many of Cruz’s biggest donors, Cruz revealed that his strategy was to “bear hug” both Trump and Ben Carson to death, killing them with kindness with the hope of their fans to flocking to him once their campaigns collapse. Although Cruz again stated how much he respected both candidates, he went on to question their credentials and judgment:
“You look at Paris, you look at San Bernardino, it’s given a seriousness to this race. People are looking for who is prepared to be a commander-in-chief. Who understands the threats we face. ‘Who am I comfortable having their finger on the button?’ Now that’s a question of strength, but it’s also a question of judgment. And I think that is a question that is a challenging question for both of them.”
Although Cruz’s comments are somewhat mild, it marks the first time he has criticized Trump in any way. To Trump, the comments were enough to start his first official attack on Cruz, as he promised to only go after candidates who attacked him first. On Friday morning, Trump addressed Cruz’s comments in two tweets:
.@tedcruz should not make statements behind closed doors to his bosses, he should bring them out into the open – more fun that way!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 11, 2015
Looks like @tedcruz is getting ready to attack. I am leading by so much he must. I hope so, he will fall like all others. Will be easy!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 11, 2015
In two interviews over the weekend, Trump responded to Cruz’s accusations that he lacked “good judgment,” by once again pointing to his business successes. Trump also offered his opposition to the war in Iraq and plan to bomb ISIS’s oil fields as examples of his sage mind.
“You look like the way he’s dealt with the Senate, where he goes in there like — frankly like a little bit of a maniac. You’re never going to get things done that way. You can’t walk into the Senate and scream and call people liars and not be able to cajole and get along with people,” said Trump on a Fox News Sunday interview. “He’ll never be able to get anything done, and that’s the problem with Ted.”
In contrast, Trump described himself as someone with an excellent temperament who can get along well with everyone, seemingly forgetting the dozens of public squabbles he has been involved in. Trump explained his strengths to CNN’s Jake Tapper :
“I’m more capable. Because I have a much better temperament. Because I actually get along with people much better than he does. You know people don’t know that about me — I actually have a great relationship with people. In fact, I was criticized in the beginning because I get along with Democrats and liberals and Republicans, and conservatives — I get along with everybody.”
Despite Trump’s harsh words, the Cruz-Trump bromance may not be entirely dead, as Trump ended his interview by saying that he still likes Cruz.
Listen to the leaked audio below:
Featured image: Salon
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