Texas Sen. Ted Cruz is putting aside all the contentiousness between him and President-elect Trump from the election, and is ready to push the new administration’s agenda in the Senate.
Cruz said on Fox News that he met with Trump at Trump Tower on Wednesday to talk about how to deliver on the promises made during the election.
Cruz and Trump were often at each other’s throats during the GOP primary, with Trump promoting conspiracy theories about Cruz’s father’s involvement in John F. Kennedy’s death and Cruz calling Trump “utterly amoral.” Trump routinely called Cruz “Lyin’ Ted.”
But, Cruz ended up endorsing Trump and is now promising to fight for him in Congress.
“I am eager and excited for the opportunity we have to come together and get the job done, that’s what we talked about,” Cruz said.
The Texas senator dodged questions about whether Trump asked him to consider becoming attorney general. Cruz said he might be open to a post in the administration if he were to be able to have influence on policy and defending the causes he believes in, but said he’s also committed to serving the people of Texas as senator.
Cruz said his biggest worry right now is turning Trump’s victory in the Electoral College — he still trails in the popular vote — into a legislative mandate in Washington, D.C.
“We need to deliver,” Cruz said of Republicans in Washington. “It’s time to put up or shut up.”
Cruz, who is up for re-election in 2018, added that he feared what could happen to Republicans facing re-election if they don’t deliver on their promises. He said that could mean the GOP Senate using the “nuclear option” to end debate on Trump administration priorities with a simple majority instead of the standard 60 vote threshold.
“If Republicans go to Washington and we don’t deliver what we promised, we’ll have pitchforks and torches in the street,” Cruz said.
