Watch GOP Rep. Peter King unload on Ted Cruz
"It's his fault, and he wants us to get him out of it."


Republican Rep. Peter King (N.Y) has had it with Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas).
King, one of the most outspoken House critics of the GOP's efforts to defund ObamaCare through the government funding battle, blasted the idea as a "terrible policy" and a "disaster" in an interview Tuesday on Fox News. And he called Cruz out by name, accusing him of splintering the party.
"Ted Cruz is to blame," King said. "And those in the House who stand with him have brought about this train wreck."
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Cruz and Tea Party-aligned Republicans pushed the GOP House leadership to embrace the defund position. But as the fight wore on, Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) lost control of the moderate wing of the party, allowing an emerging GOP civil war to take center stage in the debate.
Centrist Republicans, fearing the party had strayed too far to the right, began openly rebelling and pushing for Boehner to hold a vote on a clean budget bill that could pass in the Senate. A rumored last-minute moderate revolt on Monday fizzled, but with the government now closed, those same moderates are ramping up the pressure.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Jon Terbush is an associate editor at TheWeek.com covering politics, sports, and other things he finds interesting. He has previously written for Talking Points Memo, Raw Story, and Business Insider.
-
Zohran Mamdani: the young progressive likely to be New York City's next mayor
In The Spotlight The policies and experience that led to his meteoric rise
-
The best film reboots of all time
The Week Recommends Creativity and imagination are often required to breathe fresh life into old material
-
'More must be done'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
-
The last words and final moments of 40 presidents
The Explainer Some are eloquent quotes worthy of the holders of the highest office in the nation, and others... aren't
-
The JFK files: the truth at last?
In The Spotlight More than 64,000 previously classified documents relating the 1963 assassination of John F. Kennedy have been released by the Trump administration
-
'Seriously, not literally': how should the world take Donald Trump?
Today's big question White House rhetoric and reality look likely to become increasingly blurred
-
Will Trump's 'madman' strategy pay off?
Today's Big Question Incoming US president likes to seem unpredictable but, this time round, world leaders could be wise to his playbook
-
Democrats vs. Republicans: who are the billionaires backing?
The Explainer Younger tech titans join 'boys' club throwing money and support' behind President Trump, while older plutocrats quietly rebuke new administration
-
US election: where things stand with one week to go
The Explainer Harris' lead in the polls has been narrowing in Trump's favour, but her campaign remains 'cautiously optimistic'
-
Is Trump okay?
Today's Big Question Former president's mental fitness and alleged cognitive decline firmly back in the spotlight after 'bizarre' town hall event
-
The life and times of Kamala Harris
The Explainer The vice-president is narrowly leading the race to become the next US president. How did she get to where she is now?