US Senator Ted Cruz has hit back at Vice President JD Vance after Vance suggested that the Texas Republican was already positioning himself for a 2028 presidential campaign.
Cruz described Vance’s comments as a sign of insecurity, while insisting that his immediate focus was helping Republicans retain control of Congress in the 2026 midterm elections.
“In my experience, people engage in political bomb-throwing when they’re feeling insecure,” Cruz said in a phone interview on Saturday.
“So he’s welcome to make whatever comments he likes. I’m going to keep focusing on the midterms and helping us win on Election Day in the next 30 days.”
Cruz was responding to comments Vance made in an NBC News interview on Thursday, in which the vice president said he believed Cruz was already preparing for a presidential bid.
“It is really obvious to me that, at this very moment, Ted Cruz is running for president,” Vance said.
“At this moment, I’m not. I’m trying to help elect Republicans. That’s what I’m going to keep on doing.”
Vance is widely regarded as a leading contender for the Republican presidential nomination in 2028. Cruz, however, has previously indicated that he could be part of the race.
“I’ll certainly be part of the discussion,” Cruz told MS NOW in August.
Cruz told POLITICO on Saturday that he remained focused on helping Republicans retain control of both chambers of Congress.
He cited his campaign appearances with Republican candidates in Georgia, Iowa, Nebraska, South Carolina and Texas during the current election cycle, adding that he plans to campaign in Alaska, Florida, North Carolina and South Carolina this month.
“Over the last 10 years, there’s no Republican in the country who has campaigned for more Senate candidates, more House candidates, more gubernatorial candidates than I have, and this year will be no exception,” Cruz said.
He also highlighted several Republican candidates he has supported over the years, including former Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin, North Carolina Senator Thom Tillis and US House candidate Karoline Leavitt.
Cruz noted that he had also campaigned with Vance during Vance’s successful 2022 Senate bid in Ohio.
“Indeed, ironically, I spent a full day on the road with JD Vance, campaigning with him when he was running for Senate in Ohio in 2022,” Cruz said.
“I was very glad he won that race. I was very glad to help him.”
A spokesperson for Vance did not immediately respond to Cruz’s latest comments.
Vance campaigned in Texas and Florida during the week and is scheduled to hold a rally in Alaska on Monday.
