At Thursday's Republican presidential debate, Fox Business host Neil Cavuto asked Sen. Ted Cruz about his eligibility to run for president as a "natural born citizen," given that he was born in Canada to a U.S. mother and Cuban father. Cruz said that under "long-standing U.S. law, the child of a U.S. citizen born abroad is a natural-born citizen." Some of the more extreme "birther theories" Trump is relying on would even disqualify Trump, Cruz said, since his mother was born in Scotland.
Trump pointed out that several constitutional scholars disagree with Cruz, naming Harvard Law Prof. Lawrence Tribe. Then Trump said that he doesn't care if Cruz qualifies, since Cruz "probably has a 4-5 percent chance" of winning the nomination. "I'm not bringing a suit — I promise — but the Democrats are bringing a lawsuit," Trump said. You can watch the entertaining back-and-forth below, up to Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) saying he hated "to interrupt this episode of Court TV," getting a laugh from the audience. Peter Weber
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.
-
Roasted squash and apple soup recipeThe Week Recommends Autumnal soup is full of warming and hearty flavours
-
Ukraine: Donald Trump pivots againIn the Spotlight US president apparently warned Volodymyr Zelenskyy to accept Vladimir Putin’s terms or face destruction during fractious face-to-face
-
Autumn Budget: will Rachel Reeves raid the rich?Talking Point To fill Britain’s financial black hole, the Chancellor will have to consider everything – except an income tax rise
-
NY attorney general asks public for ICE raid footageSpeed Read Rep. Dan Goldman claims ICE wrongly detained four US citizens in the Canal Street raid and held them for a whole day without charges
-
Trump’s huge ballroom to replace razed East WingSpeed Read The White House’s east wing is being torn down amid ballroom construction
-
Trump expands boat strikes to Pacific, killing 5 moreSpeed Read The US military destroyed two more alleged drug smuggling boats in international waters
-
Trump demands millions from his administrationSpeed Read The president has requested $230 million in compensation from the Justice Department for previous federal investigations
-
Trump nominee in limbo after racist texts leakSpeed Read Paul Ingrassia lost Republican support following the exposure of past racist text messages
-
Trump begins East Wing demolition for ballroomspeed read The president’s new construction will cost $250 million
-
Appeals court clears Trump’s Portland troop deploymentSpeed Read A divided federal appeals court ruled that President Trump can send the National Guard to Portland
-
Millions turn out for anti-Trump ‘No Kings’ ralliesSpeed Read An estimated 7 million people participated, 2 million more than at the first ‘No Kings’ protest in June
