Ted Cruz said he disagrees with Donald Trump’s proposal to ban Muslims from entering the United States. The Texas senator avoided directly criticizing Trump in remarks to reporters in Washington, D.C., but offered a more forceful reproach than he had previously stated on the campaign trail.
“I disagree with that proposal,” Cruz said. “I like Donald Trump. A lot of our friends here have encouraged me to criticize and attack Donald Trump. I’m not interested in doing so, but I believe we need a plan that is focused on the direct threat and the threat we’re facing is radical Islamic terrorism.”
Cruz joined Texas Gov. Greg Abbott in a rare joint appearance in Washington to discuss how best to prevent “terrorist refugees” from entering the U.S.
Neither Cruz nor Abbott chose to dismiss Trump’s plan as incompatible with the Constitution when asked. Instead, the senator chose to praise Trump.
“Certainly in the media, there has been no shortage of criticism for Donald Trump and I do not believe the world needs my voice added to that chorus of critics,” Cruz said. “And listen, I commend Donald Trump for standing up and focusing America’s attention on the need to secure our borders.”
On Monday in South Carolina, Cruz avoided taking much of any position on Trump’s proposed Muslim ban. When asked about Trump’s proposal, Cruz responded, “No, that is not my policy.”
The Texas senator surged past Trump for the top spot in a Monmouth University survey of Iowan voters released this week. Cruz, who ranks first in the Washington Examiner‘s newest GOP presidential power rankings, has courted Trump’s support and he likely does not want to alienate any voters by criticizing The Donald.
