I've never worked with John Boehner; "I don't know the man," @TedCruz says: https://t.co/jxozGdVxRC https://t.co/9AS5WJxsY4
— CBSN (@CBSNLive) April 28, 2016
Republican presidential candidate Ted Cruz
Rafael (Ted) Edward CruzTrump administration grants funding extension for Texas testing sites Hillicon Valley: Democrats introduce bill banning federal government use of facial recognition tech | House lawmakers roll out legislation to establish national cyber director | Top federal IT official to step down GOP lawmakers join social media app billed as alternative to Big Tech MORE on Thursday dismissed John Boehner
John Andrew BoehnerLott says lobbying firm cut ties to prevent him from taking clients Lobbying firm cuts ties to Trent Lott amid national anti-racism protests Bush, Romney won't support Trump reelection: NYT MORE’s criticism of him, casting the remarks as just another example of the GOP establishment targeting him.
Rafael (Ted) Edward CruzTrump administration grants funding extension for Texas testing sites Hillicon Valley: Democrats introduce bill banning federal government use of facial recognition tech | House lawmakers roll out legislation to establish national cyber director | Top federal IT official to step down GOP lawmakers join social media app billed as alternative to Big Tech MORE on Thursday dismissed John BoehnerJohn Andrew BoehnerLott says lobbying firm cut ties to prevent him from taking clients Lobbying firm cuts ties to Trent Lott amid national anti-racism protests Bush, Romney won't support Trump reelection: NYT MORE’s criticism of him, casting the remarks as just another example of the GOP establishment targeting him."He allowed his inner Trump to come out," Cruz said of BoehnerJohn Andrew BoehnerLott says lobbying firm cut ties to prevent him from taking clients Lobbying firm cuts ties to Trent Lott amid national anti-racism protests Bush, Romney won't support Trump reelection: NYT MORE, linking the former House Speaker to Donald Trump
Donald John TrumpHouse panel approves 0.5B defense policy bill House panel votes against curtailing Insurrection Act powers after heated debate House panel votes to constrain Afghan drawdown, ask for assessment on 'incentives' to attack US troops MORE.
John Andrew BoehnerLott says lobbying firm cut ties to prevent him from taking clients Lobbying firm cuts ties to Trent Lott amid national anti-racism protests Bush, Romney won't support Trump reelection: NYT MORE, linking the former House Speaker to Donald TrumpDonald John TrumpHouse panel approves 0.5B defense policy bill House panel votes against curtailing Insurrection Act powers after heated debate House panel votes to constrain Afghan drawdown, ask for assessment on 'incentives' to attack US troops MORE.ADVERTISEMENT
Boehner on Wednesday night reportedly called Cruz “Lucifer in the flesh" and a “miserable son of a bitch.”
Cruz noted that Trump reportedly wrote a $100,000 check to the Congressional Leadership Fund, the GOP super-PAC linked to Boehner, in 2012.
"Donald Trump has been funding John Boehner, and he has also been funding Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid
Harry Mason ReidMcConnell warns Democrats not to change filibuster rule Filibuster reform gains steam with Democrats The Hill's Morning Report - Trump wants executive order on policing; silent on pending bills MORE," Cruz said.
Harry Mason ReidMcConnell warns Democrats not to change filibuster rule Filibuster reform gains steam with Democrats The Hill's Morning Report - Trump wants executive order on policing; silent on pending bills MORE," Cruz said."If you like what John Boehner, Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid have done, Donald Trump is your guy.”
Ted Cruz responds to Boehner's "Lucifer" comment: "He allowed his inner Trump to come out." https://t.co/OrbvQpjUpa https://t.co/OfcKCufbG1
— ABC News Politics (@ABCPolitics) April 28, 2016
Cruz said he was surprised Boehner felt such vitriol, noting they rarely crossed paths.
"I've never worked with John Boehner. Truth of the matter is, I don't know the man," he said.
"I've met John Boehner two or three times in my life. If I have said 50 words in my life to John Boehner, I'd be surprised, and every one of them have consisted of pleasantries.”
Cruz said that during the 2013 ObamaCare fight, he reached out to Boehner and offered a meeting with Sen. Mike Lee
Michael (Mike) Shumway LeeSenate panel votes 21-1 to back Justice IG measure over Graham objections Senators offer bill to expand charitable giving tax break Overnight Energy: Senate passes major lands conservation bill | Mnuchin ordered to give Native American tribes full stimulus funding | Key Republican jeopardizes Trump consumer safety nominee MORE (R-Utah), adding that Boehner rebuffed him.
Michael (Mike) Shumway LeeSenate panel votes 21-1 to back Justice IG measure over Graham objections Senators offer bill to expand charitable giving tax break Overnight Energy: Senate passes major lands conservation bill | Mnuchin ordered to give Native American tribes full stimulus funding | Key Republican jeopardizes Trump consumer safety nominee MORE (R-Utah), adding that Boehner rebuffed him. "If you're wondering who actually has stood up to Washington, I think John Boehner has made it crystal clear," Cruz said, pointing to Boehner calling himself a "texting buddy" of Trump.
"I have Democrat friends and Republican friends. I get along with almost everyone,” Boehner said during a Wednesday night event at Stanford University, according to The Stanford Daily. “But I have never worked with a more miserable son of a bitch in my life.”
Boehner and Cruz clashed amid standoffs with the Obama administration, most notably in 2013 when Cruz, as a freshman senator, pushed to defund ObamaCare and met with members of the conservative Freedom Caucus. The efforts eventually led to a government shutdown damaging the party's image. Later, Boehner reportedly Cruz a "jackass" over the situation.
