Cruz labels Vance ‘insecure’ after 2028 remarks

Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), seen as a possible 2028 candidate, has criticized Vice President Vance over his recent remarks that the GOP senator was clearing positioning himself for a White House bid, calling the comments “political bomb-throwing” and the vice president “insecure.”

“In my experience, people engage in political bomb-throwing when they’re feeling insecure,” Cruz told Politico in an interview on Saturday.

“So he’s welcome to make whatever comments he likes,” he continued. “I’m going to keep focusing on the midterms and helping us win on Election Day in the next 30 days.”

Last week, the vice president told NBC News it was “really obvious” that “Ted Cruz is running for president,” before adding that he was more focused on helping Republicans win the midterms.

Cruz told Politico over the weekend that he’s also helped campaign for a number of candidates this cycle in states like Georgia and Nebraska, while pointing out that he also campaigned for the vice president when he first ran for Ohio Senate in 2022.

“I was very glad he won that race,” Cruz said. “I was very glad to help him.”

The Hill has reached out to a Vance spokesperson for comment.

Vance is seen as the frontrunner for the GOP presidential nomination in 2028 given his status as vice president. He and Secretary of State Marco Rubio have dominated the early discussion about who might succeed President Trump, a conversation the president himself has sparked with his own comments about the two men.

Cruz, however, has invited speculation that he, too, is thinking of running again for the White House after losing to President Trump in the 2016 GOP primary.

Cruz endorsed candidates in the midterms, including backing some challengers of Trump endorsees like Georgia gubernatorial candidate Rick Jackson and South Carolina gubernatorial candidate Alan Wilson, both of whom won their primaries.

“I’ll certainly be part of the discussion,” Cruz told MS NOW in August regarding the 2028 field. He also suggested Vance didn’t have a lock on the 2028 GOP presidential primary.

Other Republicans who have started to invite speculation over their next steps have included Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. Blanche and Hegseth have both waved off the idea they’re interested in running in two years.