WASHINGTON — (CNN) Ted Cruz drew his sharpest distinction yet with Donald Trump on Tuesday, saying he disagreed outright with his proposal to ban Muslim immigration to the United States.
Cruz has for over seven months hugged Trump’s controversial rhetoric closely, refusing to highlight policy differences with the Republican front-runner. But he told reporters at a press conference in the Capitol that he did not think Trump’s proposal was the “right solution.”
“I do not agree with his proposals. I do not think it is the right solution,” Cruz said.
“The right solution I believe is the legislation that I’ve introduced,” Cruz added, as he outlined previously filed bills to limit the immigration of Syrian refugees alongside Texas Gov. Greg Abbott.
Cruz’s comments, however, did not break the détente between the two candidates currently leading in Iowa polls. Cruz declined frequent baits from reporters to attack Trump personally for his comments on Monday, which many other GOP candidates have done. As he routinely does, Cruz chastised the media for egging on a fight with Trump, who the day prior said he would ban all Muslims from entering the U.S. given the surging threat from Islamic terrorism.
“I recognize that a great many folks in the media would prefer that anybody running for president engage as an ongoing theater critic criticizing the proposals of others,” he said. “I do not believe the world needs my voice added to that chorus of critics.”
Cruz’s break with Trump is only the second time that he has publicly disagreed with the billionaire businessman. Last month in Iowa, Cruz said he did not share Trump’s openness to a database of all Muslims currently in the country.
Trump has frequently warned that he would hit Cruz should he continue to inch up in polls or should the Texas senator hit Trump first. But with less than two months until the Iowa caucuses, Trump has not come close to the sparring that has defined his interaction with every other Republican candidate.
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