Sen. Ted Cruz told conservative students that he once received a “special back rub” from former Vice President Joe Biden.
“It’s like is there anything else you can joke about? Gosh, can anyone think of any comedy that can be done, say, of the Democratic debates we’re watching?” Cruz remarked at an event in Washington, D.C., expressing his frustrations with the material left-leaning comedians use.
One member of the audience responded by yelling “Sleepy Joe!” Cruz responded: “By the way, I will tell you I probably the only person in this room who has, in fact, received a special back rub from Joe Biden.”
Cruz had previously told this story while on The Daily Wire’s Backstage podcast, which is hosted by the publication’s Chief Operating Officer Jeremy Boreing. Cruz tells a story where, after Republicans had stopped gun control efforts in the Senate in 2013, he was speaking with Sen. Joe Manchin, a Democrat, on the Senate floor. Cruz said that the then-vice president had walked behind him and gave him a back rub.
“Biden comes behind me, and he puts both hands on my shoulders, and begins rubbing my shoulders and kinda rocking back and forth … And he turns to Manchin and he says, “You know, there’s nothing worse than a smart Republican,” said Cruz. “I’m not usually at a loss for words, but I had nothing to say and was really hoping someone would distract the vice president.”
At least eight women have accused Biden, 76, of touching them inappropriately. He apologized but later made light of the issue. Feminists have criticized Biden for his perennial advice to young girls they should not date anyone until they are 30. In May, he told a girl of 10 she was “good-looking” and later placed his hands on her shoulders.
Cruz ended his speech by encouraging young people to spread the message of conservatism but took a jab at Biden before taking questions from the audience.
“The contrast can be night and day between demonstrating the values that we believe in, that make America great, that make America extraordinary. Demonstrate that in contrast, and that’s how you reach out and inspire, not in a Joe Biden sense of touch, but reach out and inspire fellow young people.”
