Donald Trump calls surging Ted Cruz 'a maniac' with wrong temperament, judgment to be president


Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) has taken a 10-point lead in the Iowa caucuses, according to a very well regarded poll released Saturday, and so GOP presidential rival Donald Trump went on the attack on the Sunday talk shows. On CNN's State of the Union — an appearance more notable for his scolding of Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia — Trump mocked Cruz's electoral strategy of never publicly criticizing Trump: "He's been so nice to me. I mean I could be saying anything and he'd say, I agree I agree." But it was Trump's comments on Fox News Sunday that drew the most attention.
When host Chris Wallace asked Trump what he thought about Cruz, Trump said, "I don’t think he is qualified to be president." Wallace asked why, and Trump lit in:
I don't think he has the right temperament. I don't think he's got the right judgment. When you look at the way he has dealt with the Senate, where he goes in there like a, you know, frankly, like a little bit of a maniac — you are never going to get things done that way.... You can't walk into the Senate and scream and call people liars, and not be able to cajole and get along with people. He'll never get anything done, and that's the problem with Ted. [Trump on Fox News]
You can watch the comments below:
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 stuck to his version of not publicly firing shots at Trump, offering this Sunday evening rebuttal on Twitter:
The first actual votes of the 2016 election won't be until Feb. 1, in the Iowa caucuses that Trump is trying to prevent Cruz from winning.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.
-
Does Reform have a Russia problem?
Talking Point Nigel Farage is ‘in bed with Putin’, claims Rachel Reeves, after party’s former leader in Wales pleaded guilty to taking bribes from the Kremlin
-
Five key questions about the Gaza peace deal
The Explainer Many ‘unresolved hurdles’ remain before Donald Trump’s 20-point plan can get the go-ahead
-
See the Northern Lights from these bucket list destinations
The Week Recommends The dazzling displays can be spotted across Iceland, Sweden and parts of Canada
-
Judge bars Trump’s National Guard moves in Oregon
Speed Read In an emergency hearing, a federal judge blocked President Donald Trump from sending National Guard troops into Portland
-
Museum head ousted after Trump sword gift denial
Speed Read Todd Arrington, who led the Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidential Library and Museum, denied the Trump administration a sword from the collection as a gift for King Charles
-
Trump declares ‘armed conflict’ with drug cartels
speed read This provides a legal justification for recent lethal military strikes on three alleged drug trafficking boats
-
Supreme Court rules for Fed’s Cook in Trump feud
Speed Read Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook can remain in her role following Trump’s attempts to oust her
-
Judge rules Trump illegally targeted Gaza protesters
Speed Read The Trump administration’s push to arrest and deport international students for supporting Palestine is deemed illegal
-
Trump: US cities should be military ‘training grounds’
Speed Read In a hastily assembled summit, Trump said he wants the military to fight the ‘enemy within’ the US
-
US government shuts down amid health care standoff
Speed Read Democrats said they won’t vote for a deal that doesn’t renew Affordable Care Act health care subsidies
-
YouTube to pay Trump $22M over Jan. 6 expulsion
Speed Read The president accused the company of censorship following the suspension of accounts post-Capitol riot