UPDATE: Ted Cruz has responded to Trump’s newest tactics in a video at the bottom of this post.
Tuesday is Indiana Primary Day, and Donald Trump greeted the challenge by pulling out the big tabloid guns once again (because Ted Cruz is already taking himself out, but Trump wants some added drama). Some skeptics didn’t buy that Trump may have engineered the Cruz five-mistress scandal, which the National Enquirer published as the Texas senator began to gain primary-season momentum. However, Trump is pretty tight with David Pecker, the CEO of the Enquirer‘s publisher, American Media, Inc. Also suspicious? The tabloid formally endorsed Trump in a public display of what was already suspected. The rag regularly publishes critical stories of Trump rivals while only treating him with the utmost respect. The Enquirer is one of the few places where Trump receives consistent glowing coverage.
The publication does hold a little residual cred after breaking the John Edwards scandal back in the day, so that works to Trump’s benefit. But when we received another anti-Cruz Enquirer press release a few weeks ago, it seemed like an obvious maneuver. The story didn’t make waves like a lineup of alleged mistresses. But it did accuse Lyin’ Ted of a massive coverup, which involved a purported photo of his father, Rafael Cruz, standing next to Lee Harvey Oswald. Naturally, the Enquirer‘s shouty headline read, “Ted Cruz Father Linked To JFK Assassination.” Witness this tabloid takedown in action, and the crafty Trump sparkle practically jumps off the page.
Well, Trump may not have been pleased at how this story was largely ignored, so he brought it up on Fox and Friends. Trump refers to the Enquirer‘s tale of Rafael Cruz’s close association with Oswald as fact. And he pretty much accuses Rafael of playing a role in John F. Kennedy’s assassination:
“His father was with Lee Harvey Oswald prior to [Kennedy’s] being — you know, shot. I mean, the whole thing is ridiculous. What is this, right prior to his being shot, and nobody even brings it up? They don’t even talk about that. That was reported, and nobody talks about it. … I mean, what was he doing? What was he doing with Lee Harvey Oswald shortly before the death? Before the shooting? It’s horrible.”
“That was reported” by the Enquirer, and Trump would like to know why no one is holding Ted Cruz accountable for what a tabloid alleges his father did. Elections are magical times. Here’s that Fox and Friends clip.
https://youtu.be/qYo5m8R0wcU?t=5m00s
UPDATE: Cruz fired back at “pathological liar” Trump for spreading this tale. The senator defended his father and called Trump a “narcissist” in manner of Barack Obama. Cruz sarcastically added, “Yes, my dad killed JFK.” And he listed several other ridiculous scenarios for good measure. Your move, Trump.