Cruz Pushes Back on Vance
Senator Ted Cruz is not accepting JD Vance’s suggestion that he is already running for president. After Vance said a Cruz campaign for 2028 was obvious, Cruz answered with a charge of “political bomb-throwing.” In a Saturday phone interview, Cruz said, “In my experience, people engage in political bomb-throwing when they’re feeling insecure.” He added that Vance is free to make whatever comments he likes. Cruz said his attention remains on the 2026 midterms and helping Republicans win Election Day in the next 30 days. Washington’s 2028 rumor mill is apparently open for business well before the primary contest is settled.
Vance Says Cruz Is Already Running
Cruz’s remarks followed an NBC News interview with Vance. The vice president said, “It is really obvious to me that, at this very moment, Ted Cruz is running for president.” Vance drew a contrast with his own plans, saying he was not running at this moment and was focused on helping elect Republicans. Vance is widely viewed as a leading contender for the 2028 Republican nomination, while Cruz has said he does not view Vance as a guaranteed nominee. Cruz has also said he will “certainly be part of the discussion,” leaving enough room for speculation to keep doing its favorite job: filling the silence.
Cruz Points to the Campaign Trail
Cruz told POLITICO that he is focused on helping Republicans maintain control of both chambers of Congress. He pointed to campaign travel this cycle in Georgia, Iowa, Nebraska, South Carolina, and Texas as evidence. He also said he has trips planned this month to Alaska, Florida, North Carolina, and South Carolina. Cruz claimed that over the last 10 years, no Republican has campaigned for more Senate, House, and gubernatorial candidates than he has. His argument is straightforward: traveling to help other Republicans is campaign work, not proof that he is quietly assembling a presidential operation.
The Rumor Has Been Building
Speculation about a possible Cruz presidential campaign has circulated since 2025. An NBC News post cited in the report described tensions involving President Trump and Cruz, while saying White House allies believed the Texas senator was trying to improve his 2028 prospects at Vance’s expense. The report also cites a McLaughlin & Associates poll of the 2028 Republican presidential nominee race. Vance led with 35%, followed by Rubio at 15%, Donald Trump Jr. at 14%, DeSantis at 6%, and Cruz at 3%. That gives Cruz plenty of ground to cover if he does decide to enter the race, although for now he says the midterms are the assignment.
Long-simmering tensions between President Trump and Sen. Ted Cruz are boiling over, with White House allies convinced that the Texas Republican is aiming to boost his 2028 presidential prospects at the expense of VP Vance. https://t.co/tnddMchMYU
— NBC News (@NBCNews) November 20, 2025
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