Ted Cruz bashed 'New York values' during the GOP debate. Then Trump reminded him about 9/11.


Donald Trump was quick to jump to the defense of New York City on Thursday after Ted Cruz equated "New York values" with being "focused around money and the media."
During the Fox Business Network debate, moderator Maria Bartiromo asked Cruz to explain comments he made previously about Trump having "New York values." Cruz said that people knew what he meant, but Bartiromo pressed him, saying he needed to elaborate. "I promise you, in the state of South Carolina, they [know what I mean]," he responded. "Listen, there are many wonderful working men and women in the state of New York, but everyone understands that the values in New York City are socially liberal," he said, adding that they are "pro-abortion," "pro-gay marriage," and "focused around money and the media." Trying to spin his message, Cruz said "framing it another way, not a lot of conservatives come out of Manhattan, I'm just saying."
Trump jumped to the city's defense, saying: "It's a great place, with great people, loving people, wonderful people." He described what it was like in New York after the World Trade Center was attacked, and watching as downtown Manhattan was rebuilt. "Everybody in the world watched and everybody loved New York and New Yorkers," he said. "That was a very insulting statement that Ted made."
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.
Watch his full remarks below: Catherine Garcia
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Catherine Garcia has worked as a senior writer at The Week since 2014. Her writing and reporting have appeared in Entertainment Weekly, The New York Times, Wirecutter, NBC News and "The Book of Jezebel," among others. She's a graduate of the University of Redlands and the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism.
-
Political cartoons for October 18
Cartoons Saturday's editorial cartoons include conversion therapy, Russ Vought, and more
-
President Trump: ‘waging war’ on Chicago
Talking Point Federal agents are carrying out ‘increasingly aggressive’ immigration raids – but have sanctuary cities like Chicago brought it on themselves?
-
Crossword: October 18, 2025
The Week's daily crossword puzzle
-
DOJ indicts John Bolton over classified files
Speed Read Continuing the trend of going after his political enemies, Trump prosecutes his former national security adviser
-
Trump, Putin set summit as Zelenskyy lands in DC
Speed Read Trump and Putin have agreed to meet in Budapest soon to discuss ending the war in Ukraine
-
Courts deal setbacks to Trump’s Chicago operations
Speed Read President Donald Trump cannot deploy the National Guard in Illinois
-
Pentagon reporters turn in badges after refusing rules
Speed Read They refused to sign a restrictive new press policy imposed by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth
-
Supreme Court points to gutting Voting Rights Act
speed read States would no longer be required to consider race when drawing congressional maps
-
Trump says he authorized covert CIA ops in Venezuela
Speed Read He is also considering military strikes inside the country
-
‘Vile, racist’ leaked chats roil Young Republicans
Speed Read Leaders of Young Republican groups made racist, antisemitic and violent comments in private chats
-
Trump ties $20B Argentina bailout to Milei votes
speed read Trump will boost Argentina’s economy — if the country’s right-wing president wins upcoming elections