Senate

Ted Cruz says Trump was in ‘great spirits’ during dinner at Mar-a-Lago

by Dominick Mastrangelo - 05/05/21 10:13 AM ET

Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) had dinner with former President Trump at his Mar-a-Lago resort on Tuesday night and had what the senator said was a productive discussion about how Republicans can regain control of Congress.

“Had a great dinner tonight with President Trump at Mar-a-Lago,” Cruz tweeted along with a photo of himself and Trump. “He’s in great spirits! We spent the evening talking about working together to re-take the House & Senate in 2022.”

Had a great dinner tonight with President Trump at Mar-a-Lago.

He’s in great spirits! We spent the evening talking about working together to re-take the House & Senate in 2022. pic.twitter.com/OdtUBxHGSn

— Ted Cruz (@tedcruz) May 5, 2021

Trump, who polling shows has the backing of a solid majority of the GOP base, said last month Republicans running for elected office during the 2022 midterm and 2024 general elections will need to embrace his “Make America Great Again” policy objectives if they want to succeed.

“We’ve expanded the Republican Party,” Trump said during a prime-time appearance on Fox News. “If you want to win and win big, you have to do that. You have to do it.”

Cruz was one of just two GOP senators to object to the congressional certification of President Biden’s Electoral College victory in January, citing unsubstantiated allegations of voter fraud peddled by Trump and his most vocal supporters.

The Texas lawmaker, who ran against and lost to Trump for the GOP nomination for president in 2016, is widely expected to consider another bid for the White House in 2024.

Cruz has embraced Trump’s populist messaging since he left office, tweeting last week: “Starting today, I no longer accept money from any corporate PAC. I urge my GOP colleagues to do the same. For too long, Republicans have allowed the left & their big-business allies to attack our values & ship jobs overseas with no response. No more.”

Meanwhile, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) has publicly distanced himself and the GOP establishment from Trump, blaming the former president for the Jan. 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol and suggesting he has not escaped potential prosecution for crimes he may have committed while in office.

Trump has threatened to back primary challengers who pledge support for him and his agenda against candidates endorsed by McConnell and the Republican establishment.

Several critics mocked Cruz online Tuesday for posting a picture with the former president and noted the two men’s history dating back to the 2016 presidential election.

And did he call you a liar? Tell you Heidi is ugly? Accuse your dad of being a presidential assassin? Jeez, what a pathetic cowardly ass-kisser you are @tedcruz https://t.co/U6WO2SowlE

— Andy Ostroy (@AndyOstroy) May 5, 2021