The line has been crossed. Ted Cruz went off on Donald Trump during a campaign stop in Wisconsin on Thursday, March 24, calling the GOP front-runner a “sniveling coward” for involving Cruz’s wife, Heidi, in the rivals’ ongoing political back-and-forth.
“It’s not easy to tick me off. I don’t get angry often,” he told reporters. “But ya mess with my wife, ya mess with my kids, that’ll do it every time. Donald, you’re a sniveling coward, leave Heidi the hell alone.”
When asked whether he would support Trump, 69, if the business mogul wins the nomination, the 45-year-old presidential hopeful continued with his stern words, telling reporters that “Donald Trump will not be the nominee.”
The trouble all started earlier this week when Trump accused Cruz’s team of being behind a smear campaign that used near-naked images of his wife, Melania Trump.
“@Don_Vito_08: “A picture is worth a thousand words” @realDonaldTrump #LyingTed #NeverCruz @MELANIATRUMP pic.twitter.com/5bvVEwMVF8“
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 24, 2016
In retaliation, Trump vowed to “spill the beans” about Cruz’s wife, Heidi. (Liz Mair, the Republican strategist in charge of the anti-Trump PAC Make America Awesome later tweeted at the former Celebrity Apprentice host to claim responsibility for the ad.)
Instead of revealing any deep, dark secret via social media, however, the mogul merely retweeted an offensive, misogynistic split image of Heidi and Melania with the words “No need to ‘spill the beans’ — the images are worth a thousand words.”
Cruz responded by taking the high road, tweeting shortly thereafter: “Donald, real men don’t attack women. Your wife is lovely, and Heidi is the love of my life.”
Donald, real men don’t attack women. Your wife is lovely, and Heidi is the love of my life. https://t.co/pprXhIMzUT
— Ted Cruz (@tedcruz) March 24, 2016
On Thursday, Cruz went on at length about how Trump was reacting out of fear of “strong women,” and warned his opponent against any future attacks.
“Let me be absolutely clear: Our spouses and our children are off bounds,” he said. “It is not acceptable for a big, loud, New York bully to attack my wife.”