UPDATE: Jan. 29, 11:54 a.m.
Republican presidential frontrunner Donald Trump told a New Hampshire crowd Friday morning that his rival Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) was “an anchor baby in Canada.”
He attacked Cruz throughout his speech in Nashua, New Hampshire, including on the issue of whether Cruz is eligible to run for the presidency.
“Ted Cruz is an anchor baby in Canada,” Trump said, referring to Cruz’s birth in Calgary, Canada to a Cuban father and American mother. “But Canada doesn’t accept anchor babies.”
Trump also speculated Cruz’s poll numbers would not see a bump from the debate because of the senator’s poor performance.
“We’re leading in the Iowa polls now, and leading pretty good. And Cruz is in second place. He got really pummeled last night. Actually, I’m glad I wasn’t there ’cause I guess all of that,” Trump told crowd, eliciting some laughter.
“He got pummeled,” he repeated before turning to his well-worn attack on Cruz’s eligibility to run for President.
“You know, they didn’t even mention he was born in Canada, right?” Trump said. “When you’re born in Canada, you’re not supposed to run for president of the United States. Prime minister of Canada, no problem. No, no, he can run in Canada. Prime minister of Canada, no problem. But um, so he got beaten up pretty badly last night.”
Here’s video of the moment, from Business Insider:
