Republican presidential front-runner Donald Trump took aim at rival Ted Cruz in a series of Saturday morning tweets, taunting Cruz over challenges to his citizenship and reports that he did not disclose campaign loans.
Trump has tried to stoke concerns that Cruz would face legal challenges to his eligibility for president because he was born in Canada. After a Friday lawsuit questioning exactly that, Trump took a victory lap.
“Ted Cruz was born in Canada and was a Canadian citizen until 15 months ago. Lawsuits have just been filed with more to follow. I told you so,” he wrote.
Ted Cruz was born in Canada and was a Canadian citizen until 15 months ago. Lawsuits have just been filed with more to follow. I told you so— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 16, 2016
ADVERTISEMENT
The billionaire businessman also tied concerns about Cruz’s citizenship to questions about loans for his 2012 Senate campaign that Cruz reportedly failed to disclose to the Federal Election Commission.
A series of New York Times reports in recent days accuse Cruz of getting two loans up to $500,000 each from Citibank and Goldman Sachs to fund his long-shot 2012 race for the Texas Senate seat, and not fully disclosing them to campaign finance authorities.
Cruz dismissed the controversy as a “paperwork error” during Thursday’s GOP presidential debate, implying that the first Times report was attacking him unfairly to bring down his presidential campaign.
Trump on Saturday called Cruz’s explanation “not believable,” adding that “Goldman Sachs owns him, he will do anything they demand.”
Ted Cruz said he "didn't know" that he was a Canadian Citizen. He also FORGOT to file his Goldman Sachs Million $ loan papers.Not believable— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 16, 2016
Was there another loan that Ted Cruz FORGOT to file. Goldman Sachs owns him, he will do anything they demand. Not much of a reformer!— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 16, 2016
Ted Cruz purposely, and illegally, did not list on his personal disclosure form personally guaranteed loans from banks. They own him!— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 16, 2016
Noting that Cruz’s wife works for Goldman Sachs, Trump also attacked Cruz’s recent statements assailing “New York values.”
After repeatedly decrying Trump’s home city of New York, Cruz has faced a barrage of calls to apologize.
Cruz responded Friday with what he termed an apology, that was more of an attack on New York politicians.
Trump called it a “disgrace.”
The Ted Cruz wiseguy apology to the people of New York is a disgrace. Remember, his wife's employer, and his lender, is located there!— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 16, 2016
Trump’s latest volleys are part of a two-week-long skirmish between the two leading Republican presidential contenders, which featured the two attacking each other face-to-face at Thursday’s debate.
Cruz dismissed Trump’s issues over his birthplace at the debate, saying the line of thinking is largely proffered by liberals afraid of facing Cruz in a general election.
