Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) did not back up his fellow Republican presidential candidate Ben Carson when asked about the retired neurosurgeon’s comment that Muslims should not be president of the United States.
“You know, the Constitution specifies there shall be no religious test for public office and I am a constitutionalist,” Cruz said at a Sunday taping of Iowa Public Television’s “Iowa Press,” according to the Des Moines Register.
Carson on Sunday morning told NBC’s “Meet the Press” that he would “not advocate that we put a Muslim in charge of this nation.” In an interview with The Hill later on Sunday, Carson stood by his remarks.
“I do not believe Sharia is consistent with the Constitution of this country,” he told The Hill. “Muslims feel that their religion is very much a part of your public life and what you do as a public official, and that’s inconsistent with our principles and our Constitution.”
Although Cruz weighed in on Carson’s comments, he would not criticize Donald Trump for failing to correct a town hall audience member who said President Obama is a Muslim.
“My view, listen. The president’s faith is between him and God. What I’m going to focus on is his public policy record,” Cruz said when asked about Trump’s comments on “Iowa Press,” according to the Des Moines Register.
Cruz’s full interview will air on Friday and Sunday on Iowa Public Television.
