Senator Ted Cruz, Republican of Texas, was widely mocked after he suggested that he will be "the next nominee" for President of the United States.
Cruz made the bold claim during an interview with The Truth Gazette, a far-right news service, when asked whether he would consider another run for the executive office.
You can hear what Cruz said in the video below
Ted Cruz actually thinks that he is going to get elected President of the United States in 2024. This is too good! Interview this morning.pic.twitter.com/EpUELXaLtO— Ron Filipkowski (@Ron Filipkowski) 1640190065
Cruz said:
"Absolutely. In a heartbeat. I ran in 2016. It was the most fun I ever had in my life."
"We had a very crowded field. We had seventeen candidates in the race, a very strong field, and I ended up placing second. You know, there's a reason historically [that] the runner up is almost always the next candidate, and that's been true going back to Nixon or Reagan or McCain or Romney that's played out repeatedly."
Cruz observed that the runner up often comes in "with an enormous base of support."
Cruz lost the Republican nomination to then-candidate Donald Trump and faced significant criticism for his often deferential attitude toward Trump during his time in office.
There is also a contentious history between the two, including the moment during the 2016 campaign when Trump mocked Cruz's wife, Heidi Cruz, by comparing her looks to his wife, Melania, a former model.
Trump also once suggested that Cruz's father may have been involved in the assassination of former President John F. Kennedy, claiming that Cruz's father was with Kennedy assassin Lee Harvey Oswald "prior to Oswald being, you know, shot."
Ultimately, Cruz's statements did not go over well with the online community and many suggested that he wouldn't stand a chance of securing the Republican nomination given that he is widely unpopular nationwide.
@tedcruz is sure to lose out to the first candidate who insults his wife on the campaign trail.https://twitter.com/RonFilipkowski/status/1473690065029246981\u00a0\u2026— K.C. Banks - GET A GRIP! (@K.C. Banks - GET A GRIP!) 1640204190
Ted you are hated more than fruit cake in 17 different states https://twitter.com/RonFilipkowski/status/1473690065029246981\u00a0\u2026— WeThePeople\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8 (@WeThePeople\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8) 1640203345
He couldn't get elected president of a Ted Cruz fan club.https://twitter.com/RonFilipkowski/status/1473690065029246981\u00a0\u2026— Tom Stewart (@Tom Stewart) 1640203823
Okay, okay... haha! Let's say he actually had a shot at being president (BUAHAHA!) and got elected. Seriously, let's think about that for like a second. Okay, ready? We, as a country, would deserve EVERYTHING AND ANYTHING that happens to us if by some sort of miracle, he got in.https://twitter.com/RonFilipkowski/status/1473690065029246981\u00a0\u2026— Obi//KAP (@Obi//KAP) 1640203336
The most fun @TedCruz ever had in his life was getting humiliated by a barbaric game show host?\nShhh. Don't tell Heidi.https://twitter.com/RonFilipkowski/status/1473690065029246981\u00a0\u2026— Paulette Feeney (@Paulette Feeney) 1640199576
Why are they sitting so close togetherhttps://twitter.com/RonFilipkowski/status/1473690065029246981\u00a0\u2026— Julie Alderman Boudreau (@Julie Alderman Boudreau) 1640203032
Unless Donald runs and calls @tedcruz's wife ugly again. Then, ball-less Ted will swim back up Donald's rectum and praise him as if he were God. Yes, we all know this movie.https://twitter.com/RonFilipkowski/status/1473690065029246981\u00a0\u2026— Kimberley Johnson (@Kimberley Johnson) 1640198297
Hilarious. Cruz\u2019s own party despises him.https://twitter.com/RonFilipkowski/status/1473690065029246981\u00a0\u2026— Tucker Cruzelson (@Tucker Cruzelson) 1640199446
BWAHAHAHAHAHAHA @tedcruz actually thinks people will vote for his sad pathetic campaign. \n\nThat traitor shouldn\u2019t even be allowed to run.https://twitter.com/ronfilipkowski/status/1473690065029246981\u00a0\u2026— WillfulThought (@WillfulThought) 1640195878
Although Trump has not made a formal announcement, most prognosticators believe he will run for office again in 2024.
Last month, Trump hinted he would announce a presidential run after next year's midterm elections, which will determine if Democrats manage to retain control of both chambers of the legislature.
Speaking to Fox News, he said "a lot of great people who are thinking about running are waiting for that decision, because they're not going to run if I run."
Trump's advisers have previously instructed him to wait before he makes an official announcement confirming his candidacy.
According to a Washington Post report, which cited individuals familiar with the discussions, advisers who have told the impatient Trump he has to wait before making an announcement are nervous that an early announcement would mobilize Democrats and increase voter turnout.
