So much for the pivot: Donald Trump is back to denouncing “Lyin’ Ted.”
The Republican presidential front-runner had softened his attacks on his chief rival, Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, on Tuesday night in New York City following his crushing primary victory in the Empire State.
He dropped his usual moniker for Cruz, and instead included an honorific as he referred to “Senator Cruz,” part of a soberer speech in Trump Tower celebrating his win.
On Wednesday afternoon in Indianapolis, though, it was “Lyin’ Ted” again.
Less than three minutes into his speech, Trump was blasting Cruz and repeating “Lyin’ Ted.”
Unlike most of Trump’s events, the crowd didn’t start chanting “Lyin’ Ted.” Instead, attendees in Indianapolis booed Cruz.
Later in the speech, Trump told the crowd, “I’m about 300 delegates ahead of Lyin’ Ted,” arguing that Cruz is attempting to claim the Republican nomination through a “rigged, crooked system that’s designed so that the bosses can pick whoever they want.”
Trump’s nicknames for foes have been mainstays in campaign speeches and debates for months. First, he denounced former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush as “low-energy,” and then he branded Florida Sen. Marco Rubio as “Little Marco.” His latest target is Hillary Clinton, who Trump is calling “Crooked Hillary.”
His nickname for the Democratic presidential front-runner made an extended appearance during remarks Trump gave at a rally in Berlin, Maryland, later on Wednesday.
“Crooked Hillary Clinton will not have a chance. She’s not bringing jobs back,” Trump said, adding later, “We are going to beat her so badly. It’s going to be something that you’re going to watch and really enjoy watching.”
Trump also said Clinton’s use of a private email server while serving as secretary of state should have prevented her from running for president.
“I mean frankly she should not be allowed to run, for Christ’s sake,” he said.