ImmigrationProf Blog

Friday, July 3, 2015

Senator Ted Cruz on Trump: ‘I Salute Donald Trump’

MANDATORY CREDIT: NBC’S “MEET THE PRESS”

Donald Trump has had a tough week, being criticized from many quarters and losing many sponsors. Today, “Meet the Press” moderator Chuck Todd sat down with Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) in Marietta, Georgia to talk about his new book and his run for president.

During the interview, Senator Cruz (R-TX) was asked about Donald Trump's controversial comments about undocumented immigrants.

See below for the exchange, and tune in to Sunday’s “Meet the Press” for Chuck’s full interview with Sen. Cruz.

WATCH VIDEO.

Embed video: <iframe width="635" height="500" src="http://player.theplatform.com/p/2E2eJC/nbcNewsOffsite?guid=x_dc_mtp_cruztrump_150703" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe>

Cruz: Now when it comes to Trump. I like Donald Trump. He’s bold. He’s brash. And I get that it seems the favorite sport of the Washington media is to encourage some republicans to attack other republicans. I ain’t gonna do it. I’m not interested in Republican on Republican violence.

Chuck: Rhetoric matters. Doesn’t rhetoric matter?

Cruz: I salute Donald Trump for focusing on the need to address illegal immigration. The Washington cartel doesn’t want to address that. The Washington cartel doesn’t believe we need to secure the borders. The Washington cartel supports amnesty, and I think amnesty is wrong. And I salute Donald Trump for focusing on it. He has a colorful way of speaking -- it’s not the way I speak. But I’m not going to engage in the media’s game of throwing rocks and attacking other Republicans. I’m just not gonna do it.

UPDATE (July 5): From NBC Universal:

Presidential hopeful Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) left all options on the table on illegal immigration in the United States, telling “Meet the Press” moderator Chuck Todd: “We should secure the border and then have a conversation.”

This morning’s show also featured an interview with Ta-Nehisi Coates, author of "Between the World and Me"; updates from NBC News correspondents Richard Engel, Andrea Mitchell and Kristen Welker; and a political panel discussion with Chris Cillizza ofThe Washington Post; Kathleen Parker of The Washington Post; Carolyn Ryan of The New York Times, and Michael Steele, fmr. Chairman of the Republican National Committee.

Below are highlights, video clips, and a rush transcript of today’s program. Additional show video is available online at www.MeetThePressNBC.com. Join the conversation online with hashtag #MTP.

Like the show on Facebook, and follow “Meet the Press” on Twitter.

# # #

Sen. Ted Cruz on Illegal Immigration

CHUCK TODD:

You still didn't say what you'd do with the 11 million.

TED CRUZ:

Well, my view is first, we secure the borders and solve the problem of illegal immigration. And then I think we can have a conversation about what to do about the people who remain here. I don't think the American people will accept any solution until we demonstrate step number one, we can secure the border.

CHUCK TODD:

So anything's on the table? Potentially deportation or not deportation, but anything's on the table for the 11 million--

TED CRUZ:

I think we should secure the border and then have a conversation at that point.

# # #

Sen. Cruz on Trump: I salute Donald Trump for focusing on the need to address illegal immigration.

VIDEO: http://nbcnews.to/1H59C1K