President Trump was asked about a report saying Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) is laying the groundwork for a 2028 presidential run. A reporter asked Trump for a reaction and if he would support the Texas Republican. “Well, he’s a friend of mine. I mean, no I haven’t spoken to him about it. It’s a little early. It’s three and a quarter years, it’s a long time. But he’s a very good guy. He’s a very good friend of mine,” Trump responded. “You remember, we had quite a campaign against Ted and it worked out quite nicely. Well see, where are we? Oh, we’re in the Oval Office. But I’m not that surprised to hear that,” he continued. Check it out: JUST IN: President Trump has a HILARIOUS response to Ted Cruz preparing a 2028 presidential campaign "We had quite a campaign against Ted. It worked out quite nicely. Let's see, where are we – the OVAL OFFICE!" "He's a friend of mine. I haven't spoken to him about it.… pic.twitter.com/fiOYdEvjxc — Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) November 17, 2025 The Axios report said Cruz is “laying the groundwork for a 2028 presidential bid” by taking jabs at political commentator Tucker Carlson. Cruz has accused Carlson of antisemitism and opposed the former Fox News host’s isolationist foreign policy positions, the news outlet said. The maneuvering against Carlson is believed to potentially put Cruz on a path to face Vice President J.D. Vance, who is widely viewed as the 2028 GOP frontrunner. Sen. Ted Cruz Asked About Rumor He’s Planning 2028 Presidential Run Mediaite shared: On the campaign trail during their 2016 fight for the Republican presidential nomination, Trump referred to Cruz as “Lyin’ Ted,” although he later amended the moniker to “Beautiful Ted” and campaigned on Cruz’s behalf. Cruz has been very critical of Carlson and other purveyors of anti-Semitic ideas in the Republican Party, while Vance counts Carlson as an ally. “This poison of anti-Semitism on the right, it is spreading with young people. It is gaining traction,” declared Cruz in a speech last month. “But I will tell you, there is a movement among Christians, particularly young Christians. The public polling numbers of support for Israel among young Christians is plummeting. And they’re being spread lies. They’re being spread lies, isolationist lies that we should withdraw from the world because nobody wants to hurt us. But they’re also being spread theological lies.” Cruz was asked to respond to the Axios report during an interview on Fox News’s “The Faulkner Focus.” “Axios led its morning newsletter with this headline: ’SCOOP: Cruz Eyes 2028 Run’. Senator Cruz, where are you on that?” Faulkner asked the Texas Republican. “You know, reporters are going to write headlines that get clicks and get eyeballs. I got a job. It’s representing 31 million Texans, and it’s fighting every day for 31 million Texans,” Cruz responded. Cruz proceeded to discuss legislative accomplishments during President Trump’s second term. “I’ll tell you right now, the wins we are getting are historic. The ‘one big, beautiful bill’ you were talking about just a minute ago, I was blessed to write major portions of that bill,” Cruz said. Cruz said he “authored and passed into law” a school-choice provision and personal investment accounts for children. “So the victories we are winning are a big deal. That’s where my focus is,” he added. Cruz said one of his focuses right now is addressing Christian persecution in Nigeria. Faulkner noted that Cruz did not deny the reporting by Axios. Watch the clip below: Harris Faulkner: “Axios led its morning newsletter with this headline: ’SCOOP: Cruz Eyes 2028 Run’. Senator Cruz, where are you on that?” Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX): “You know, reporters are going to write headlines that get clicks and get eyeballs. I have a job that is representing… pic.twitter.com/vChZ2Zdj5c — RedWave Press (@RedWave_Press) November 17, 2025 Fox News has more: Cruz has positioned himself for another run for the White House, according to reporting from Axios on Monday. By presenting himself as an alternative to the more domestically focused wing of the GOP — especially on Israel — Cruz has set himself apart from other notable 2028 prospective candidates like Vice President JD Vance. The issue of interventionism has divided figures in the GOP for months as pundits, candidates and sitting lawmakers weigh how the U.S. should navigate its international relationships. Vance, like many other voices in Trump’s orbit, has called for the U.S. to pull back from engagements in Ukraine and the Middle East to focus on domestic issues. Cruz has gone against the grain of the party, maintaining that the country's security — and the security of the international community — depends on strong leadership from the White House. Most recently, Cruz said he believed American attention was needed in Nigeria, where Christians have faced intense persecution in recent years. "It’s why my focus right now is on the Christians in Nigeria," Cruz said on Monday after deflecting questions about 2028. "I was at the White House last week with the president, thanking him for standing up for the Christians in Nigeria."