Ted Cruz argued that Marco Rubio has “consistently been wrong on foreign policy” in a radio interview on Wednesday.
The Texas senator lumped Rubio in with members of the “Republican establishment” whom Cruz perceives as having supported or otherwise enabled the Obama administration’s approach to international affairs.
Cruz linked Rubio to Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton for her approval of the Arab Spring uprisings as secretary of state and her desire to see the Libyan government overthrown under President Muammar Qaddafi. The senator told radio host Jeff Kuhner that Rubio’s policy proposals on Syria could also damage U.S. national security.
“In Syria, Senator Rubio again agrees with Hillary Clinton that we should be toppling Bashar Assad,” Cruz said. “If they succeed in toppling Assad, ISIS will take over Syria and the result is worse for U.S. national security interests. And it is not helping America to be toppling governments and to be handing the countries over to radical Islamic terrorists. And we need a president who is clear eyed and focused on the national security needs of this country and we shouldn’t be helping radical Islamic terrorists, which sadly that has been the result of the misguided policies of the Republican establishment joining with Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton.”
To protect the homeland, Cruz told Kuhner he would appoint Donald Trump to build a wall along the entirety of the nation’s southern border.
“Would a President Cruz build a wall along the entire southern border and would you, if you were president, appoint Donald Trump to build that wall?” Kuhner asked.
“Absolutely yes on both fronts,” Cruz answered. “I give you my word Jeff, as president I will secure the border and we will end illegal immigration.”
Rubio and Cruz will attend a Republican Jewish Coalition event in Washington, D.C., on Thursday. He ranks second in the Washington Examiner‘s newest GOP presidential power rankings.
