Sen. Ted Cruz said President Trump’s rhetoric is energizing Democrats ahead of the 2020 election, but he wouldn’t say whether it would harm the president’s chances of being reelected.
Cruz was asked four times whether Trump’s rhetoric harms his reelection bid, and he refused to directly answer the question each time.
Recommended Stories
“The president regularly says and tweets things I wish he wouldn’t say,” the Texas Republican told PBS’ Firing Line.
“He is not going to change. He is who he is,” Cruz said. “I wish he would say things differently. I don’t have the power to change that. I can’t change that.”
When asked if Trump’s racially-charged rhetoric may hurt his chances in 2020, Sen @tedcruz doesn’t directly answer: “I wish he would say things differently. I don’t have the power to change that.”
@MargaretHoover follows up: “I’m going to take it as yes.” #FiringLineShowPBS pic.twitter.com/WCEeNyr3sI— Firing Line with Margaret Hoover (@FiringLineShow) July 19, 2019
Trump has been widely condemned this week for telling a group of minority Democratic lawmakers to “go back” to their countries of origin. All four congresswomen are American citizens, and only Rep. Ilhan Omar of Minnesota was born outside of the U.S.
The controversy was further inflamed when supporters at a rally in North Carolina chanted “send her back” during Trump’s riff on Omar.
