Senator Ted Cruz, Republican of Texas, was widely mocked after he suggested that he will be "the next nominee" for President of the United States.
Cruz made the bold claim during an interview with The Truth Gazette, a far-right news service, when asked whether he would consider another run for the executive office.
You can hear what Cruz said in the video below
Cruz said:
"Absolutely. In a heartbeat. I ran in 2016. It was the most fun I ever had in my life."
"We had a very crowded field. We had seventeen candidates in the race, a very strong field, and I ended up placing second. You know, there's a reason historically [that] the runner up is almost always the next candidate, and that's been true going back to Nixon or Reagan or McCain or Romney that's played out repeatedly."
Cruz observed that the runner up often comes in "with an enormous base of support."
Cruz lost the Republican nomination to then-candidate Donald Trump and faced significant criticism for his often deferential attitude toward Trump during his time in office.
There is also a contentious history between the two, including the moment during the 2016 campaign when Trump mocked Cruz's wife, Heidi Cruz, by comparing her looks to his wife, Melania, a former model.
Trump also once suggested that Cruz's father may have been involved in the assassination of former President John F. Kennedy, claiming that Cruz's father was with Kennedy assassin Lee Harvey Oswald "prior to Oswald being, you know, shot."
Ultimately, Cruz's statements did not go over well with the online community and many suggested that he wouldn't stand a chance of securing the Republican nomination given that he is widely unpopular nationwide.
Although Trump has not made a formal announcement, most prognosticators believe he will run for office again in 2024.
Last month, Trump hinted he would announce a presidential run after next year's midterm elections, which will determine if Democrats manage to retain control of both chambers of the legislature.
Speaking to Fox News, he said "a lot of great people who are thinking about running are waiting for that decision, because they're not going to run if I run."
Trump's advisers have previously instructed him to wait before he makes an official announcement confirming his candidacy.
According to a Washington Post report, which cited individuals familiar with the discussions, advisers who have told the impatient Trump he has to wait before making an announcement are nervous that an early announcement would mobilize Democrats and increase voter turnout.
