Trump Questions Cruz’s Birth Status: Says It’s “Big Problem” for Presidency

Trump’s attacks on Cruz come as the Iowa caucuses approach on February 1.

Asked about Trump’s comments Wednesday, Cruz said that “people will continue to make political noise about it, but as a legal matter, it’s quite straightforward”. Cruz’s camp countered by tweeting a link to Happy Days, implying that Trump has jumped the shark. The moment, known as “jumping the shark”, has come to refer to the use of a gimmick to halt the decline of a television show or other effort.

In small towns from Cherokee to Sioux Center, an overwhelming number of would-be voters said both Cruz and Rubio are in contention for their support.

“The U.S. Constitution says presidential candidates have to be ‘natural-born citizens.’ But the Supreme Court has never weighed in with a definition, leaving it open to interpretation”. His family moved to the US when he was a young child. That means that he can be president by the same logic as Cruz and McCain, even if he was born in Kenya, or Krypton, or anywhere else.

While born in Canada, Cruz and allies have said he is eligible for the presidency because his mother’s status as an American citizen made him a citizen upon his birth. The most common explanation is that someone who is a US citizen at birth – with no need to go through the process of becoming a naturalized citizen – is a natural born citizen.

In a pair of interviews on Wednesday, Trump expanded on remarks to the Washington Post that the fact that Cruz was born in Canada could be “very precarious” for Republicans if his citizenship were challenged. “You don’t want to be running and have that kind of thing over your head”, Trump said.

Trump, who a few years ago was actively involved in spreading conspiracy theories over President Barack Obama’s citizenship, has now suggested that voters should think twice about the possible ramifications of supporting Cruz who was born in Canada. Cruz’s father was born in Cuba.

Trump, who at recent events has pondered aloud about the fact that he could lose Iowa to Cruz, has nevertheless recently begun intentionally poking at his faith, nationality, and as of Tuesday, his citizenship. But last September, Trump said, “I hear it was checked out by every attorney and every which way and I understand Ted is in fine shape”.

Trump and Cruz share cordial relations bordering on friendship. “Absolutely without question, he is qualified and he meets the qualifications”. “Yes, I’m sure”, he added about not having a Canadian passport.

Mr. Trump claims that in the eventuality of Ted Cruz winning the nomination, his Canadian roots can be a real issue, according to The New York Times.