Ted Cruz calls JD Vance 'insecure' in 2028 presidential clash

WASHINGTON, DC: Sen. Ted Cruz fired back at Vice President JD Vance this week after Vance suggested Cruz was already laying the groundwork for a 2028 presidential run, calling the vice president "insecure" while insisting his own focus remains squarely on the upcoming midterms.

Cruz's comments came in response to an NBC News interview Thursday with Vance in which the vice president suggested Cruz was prematurely eyeing a White House run.

JD Vance suggested Ted Cruz was already running for president

“It is really obvious to me that, at this very moment, Ted Cruz is running for president,” Vance said.

“At this moment, I’m not. I’m trying to help elect Republicans. That’s what I’m going to keep on doing.”

Vance is widely viewed as the frontrunner for the Republican presidential nomination, but Cruz has said he doesn’t believe Vance is the sure-fire nominee and suggested he might throw his own hat in the ring.

“I’ll certainly be part of the discussion,” he told MS NOW in August.

On Saturday, Cruz said he is dedicated to helping Republicans maintain control of both chambers of Congress.

He pointed to his travel this cycle to campaign with candidates in Georgia, Iowa, Nebraska, South Carolina as well as in his home state of Texas as proof. He also said he has trips planned this month to campaign with Republicans in Alaska, Florida, North Carolina and South Carolina.

Ted Cruz pointed to his past support for JD Vance

“Over the last 10 years, there’s no Republican in the country who has campaigned for more Senate candidates, more House candidates, more gubernatorial candidates than I have, and this year will be no exception,” he said.

“Indeed, ironically, I spent a full day on the road with JD Vance, campaigning with him when he was running for Senate in Ohio [in 2022],” Cruz said in a phone interview Saturday.

“I was very glad he won that race. I was very glad to help him.”

“In my experience, people engage in political bomb-throwing when they’re feeling insecure,” Cruz said.

“So he’s welcome to make whatever comments he likes. I’m going to keep focusing on the midterms and helping us win on Election Day in the next 30 days.”

Cruz highlighted Republicans he backed on the campaign trail

Cruz rattled off a list of Republicans he’s backed on the campaign trail: former Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin, Sen. Thom Tillis, House candidate Karoline Leavitt, and, most notably, Vance himself.

He talked about campaigning with Vance during the 2022 Ohio Senate race, using it as clear proof he’s stuck by his party.

This dust-up stands out, it’s not often you see two leading Republicans clash in public like this. Meanwhile, speculation about the 2028 presidential race keeps heating up, even though both Cruz and Vance insist they’re focused on next month’s midterms and on making sure Republicans hang on to Congress.

Vance campaigned this week in Texas and Florida, and he’s heading to Alaska for a rally on Monday.