Watch an 18-year-old Ted Cruz ponder 'world domination'


A mock campaign ad for Ted Cruz features the senator as a high school senior, with footage reportedly provided by an anonymous former classmate at Houston's Second Baptist School. The clip begins with someone off-camera asking Cruz about his aspirations in life, to which he replies:
"Aspirations? Is that like sweat on my butt? No. No. Oh, I see. What I want to do in life. Well, my aspiration is to, uh... Oh, I don't know, be in a teen tit film like that guy who played Horatio. You know, he was in Malibu Bikini Beach Shop? Well, other than that, uh, take over the world. World domination. You know, rule everything. Rich. Powerful. That sort of stuff."
The video ends with a cut to Cruz's father being asked if he believes his son will really rule the world. "I hope not," Rafael Cruz replies with a grin.
Despite Cruz's facetious tone on camera, a scholarship profile from the same year sees him laying out a remarkably accurate plan for his road to the White House — well, so far, anyway. After Princeton for undergrad (check), Harvard Law (check), law practice and a political career (check and check), young Cruz wrote that he hoped to "achieve a strong enough reputation and track record to run for — and win — president of the United States."
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.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Bonnie Kristian was a deputy editor and acting editor-in-chief of TheWeek.com. She is a columnist at Christianity Today and author of Untrustworthy: The Knowledge Crisis Breaking Our Brains, Polluting Our Politics, and Corrupting Christian Community (forthcoming 2022) and A Flexible Faith: Rethinking What It Means to Follow Jesus Today (2018). Her writing has also appeared at Time Magazine, CNN, USA Today, Newsweek, the Los Angeles Times, and The American Conservative, among other outlets.
-
RFK Jr.'s phase-out of artificial food dyes could face industry pushback
In the Spotlight Will companies comply without an outright ban?
By Theara Coleman, The Week US
-
Israel launches air strike on Beirut suburbs
Speed Read The attack targeting Hezbollah was Israel's third on the Lebanese capital since November's ceasefire
By Arion McNicoll, The Week UK
-
Trump's 100-day approval ratings at historic low
Speed Read Americans appear to be wary of Trump's sweeping tariffs and handling of the economy
By Justin Klawans, The Week US
-
Nobody seems surprised Wagner's Prigozhin died under suspicious circumstances
Speed Read
By Peter Weber, The Week US
-
Western mountain climbers allegedly left Pakistani porter to die on K2
Speed Read
By Justin Klawans
-
'Circular saw blades' divide controversial Rio Grande buoys installed by Texas governor
Speed Read
By Peter Weber
-
Los Angeles city workers stage 1-day walkout over labor conditions
Speed Read
By Justin Klawans
-
Mega Millions jackpot climbs to an estimated $1.55 billion
Speed Read
By Catherine Garcia
-
Bangladesh dealing with worst dengue fever outbreak on record
Speed Read
By Catherine Garcia
-
Glacial outburst flooding in Juneau destroys homes
Speed Read
By Catherine Garcia, The Week US
-
Scotland seeking 'monster hunters' to search for fabled Loch Ness creature
Speed Read
By Justin Klawans