Cruz dismisses ‘non-issue’ citizenship questions

by Lisa Hagen - 01/06/16 9:25 PM ET

GOP presidential candidate Ted Cruz on Wednesday pushed back at rival Donald Trump’s questions about his citizenship, calling it a “non-issue” and saying he never owned a Canadian passport.

“Of course not,” Cruz told CNN about the passport. “Yes, I’m sure. The media, with all due respect, love to engage in silly sideshows. We need to focus on what matters.”

{mosads}”The legal issue is straightforward,” Cruz continued. “Listen, the Constitution and the laws of the United States are straightforward. The very first Congress defined the child of a U.S. citizen born abroad as a natural born citizen.”

Trump on Wednesday doubled down on his attacks, questioning the Canadian-born hopeful’s eligibility to be president. Trump has suggested that Cruz could be tied up in a years-long legal fight over his citizenship if he becomes the nominee.

Trump said he’s unsure whether the Texas senator is a natural born citizen.

“I don’t know to be honest, and I like him a lot,” Trump said Wednesday about Cruz’s citizenship in an interview on CNN’s “The Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer.”

The real estate mogul also suggested that Cruz go to federal court “immediately” to resolve the matter.

“You go to federal court, you ask for a declaratory judgment. Once the court rules, you have your decision,” Trump said. “That will clear it all up.”

This isn’t the first time the GOP front-runner has made such claims. Before declaring his candidacy, Trump brought up a similar argument against Cruz in March, saying his birthplace was “a hurdle.”

The billionaire businessman also questioned President Obama’s eligibility to be commander in chief for years.

Tags Canada Donald Trump Ted Cruz