Ted Cruz mistakenly claims Jimmy Carter endorsed Donald Trump


Ted Cruz evidently never played the "would you rather" game as a kid.
Speaking to an audience in New Hampshire, Cruz told the crowd that former President Jimmy Carter had "endorsed" Donald Trump in the 2016 race. "I am not making that up," Cruz assured them. Only, he kind of was.
On Wednesday, Jimmy Carter said that if he had to choose between Republican candidates Donald Trump or Ted Cruz, he'd pick Trump. "Trump has proven already that he's completely malleable. I don't think he has any fixed opinions that he would really go to the White House and fight for," Carter explained — hardly a glowing endorsement.
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To endorse something is to declare one's public approval or support of that person or idea, which was not what Carter, a Democrat, had done. Carter has already said he'll back whoever his party's nominee is. "It's very likely Hillary Clinton will prevail in the Democratic Party. Bernie Sanders, though, has had a remarkable showing, particularly among young people," Carter said.
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Jeva Lange was the executive editor at TheWeek.com. She formerly served as The Week's deputy editor and culture critic. She is also a contributor to Screen Slate, and her writing has appeared in The New York Daily News, The Awl, Vice, and Gothamist, among other publications. Jeva lives in New York City. Follow her on Twitter.
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