Donald Trump aide Stephen Miller ripped into Ted Cruz Saturday night on the campaign trail in Wisconsin, denouncing the Texas senator in terms harsh even for the contentious Republican primary.
Taking the stage in Eau Claire shortly before Trump was due to appear, Miller dedicated an entire warm-up speech to bashing Cruz, an unusual role for a campaign aide. Miller made charges against Cruz that even Cruz’s harshest critics might find short on accuracy.
“I am here to tell you the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth about Goldman Sachs’ favorite senator, Ted Cruz,” Miller said, referring to the New York investment bank that gave Cruz a loan he failed to properly disclose.
Miller accused Cruz of bringing up “personal stuff” to distract from the issues, mentioning in the process multiple unsourced and unverified tabloid reports regarding Cruz. Trump and his surrogates have falsely asserted that Cruz’s campaign distributed an ad critical of Cruz’s wife. The ad was released by a super PAC opposed to Trump, “Make America Awesome Again.” There is no evidence Cruz was involved in releasing it. His campaign, in fact, is legally barred from coordinating with that or any other outside group.
Miller asserted that Cruz “has betrayed the working people of this country, including every single person in this room tonight” in votes relating to immigration and trade.
Referencing an amendment to the 2013 Senate immigration bill, Miller told the crowd that “Ted Cruz isn’t a conservative, He’s an ideologue. He’s a globalist ideologue.”
Prior to joining Trump’s campaign, Miller was an aide for Sen. Jeff Sessions, R-Ala., a top congressional opponent of liberal immigration policies and a conservative skeptic of trade deals.
After criticizing Cruz’s record on immigration, Miller concluded that “Ted Cruz is an extremist, and he is too extreme for Wisconsin.”
Then he turned to the trade.
“There is no more hardcore ideologue in favor of offshoring than Ted Cruz,” he said. “If Ted Cruz is elected president he will sign the death warrant for manufacturing in the state of Wisconsin.”
Miller wrapped up by accusing Cruz of backing “left-wing” protesters who, he said, attacked police officers at a planned Trump rally in Chicago in March. Anti-Trump protesters in Chicago clashed with Trump backers. There is little or no evidence of protesters attacking police there.
“Can you support a candidate who sides with protesters over cops?” Miller asked.
Cruz continued to face harsh rhetoric when Trump took the stage.
“Lyin’ Ted, Lyin’ Ted!” Trump said early in his appearance, using a phrase he has used to refer to Cruz in stump speeches and debates.
“He holds the Bible high. He puts the Bible down, and then he lies,” Trump told the crowd.
