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Felicia Sonmez
National reporter on the Washington post
October 22 at 8:37 pm
HOUSTON – President Trump rallied support for his onetime foe Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Tex.) On Monday, burying a bitter fire with a man that he long referred to as "Lyin 'Ted" during the 2016 primary.
Taking the podium at the Toyota Center, Trump embraced Cruz, whom he called "a man who has become a good friend of mine," and jokingly made reference to their words.
"In the beginning, it was a love fest," Trump said to laughs.
Cruz, speaking before Trump, hailed the president as "a man who has presided over record-keeping jobs, record unemployment" and said he looks forward to hitting the campaign trail for his reelection campaign.
"In 2020 Donald Trump will be overwhelmingly reelected as president of the United States," said Cruz, prompting a chorus of cheers from the crowd.
In remarks before he left Washington for Texas, Trump said he had come up with a new nickname for Cruz.
President Trump is greeted by Sen. Ted Cruz as he arrives for a Houston Toyota Center rally on Monday, Oct. 22, 2018. (Evan Vucci / AP)
"He's not Lyin 'Ted anymore. He's Beautiful Ted, "Trump told reporters outside the White House on Monday before taking off for a rally for Cruz in the Lone Star State. "I call him Texas Ted."
Trump had also ridiculed Cruz's wife, Heidi, during the 2016 campaign and promoted a conspiracy theory that Cruz's father was connected to the badbadination of President John F. Kennedy.
Cruz, for his part, has called Trump a "sniveling coward" and a "pathological liar." After declining to endorse Trump during the Republican National Convention, he was published in September 2016 and begrudgingly offered his support.
On Monday night, it was all under the bridge as Trump and Cruz appeared together.
After Cruz introduced him, Trump took his time walking down the aisle, stopping every few steps and shake hands with supporters, who greeted him with deafening cheers while Cruz looked on and applauded.
When Trump finally reached the stage, he and Cruz shook hands, then shared another embrace before Trump took the podium.
Trump reported Monday afternoon that he and Cruz had a "very, very nasty and tough campaign," but they said "worked together very closely" since then.
"I like him a lot. I actually like a lot, and he's a very smart guy. He loves the people of Texas, "Trump said.
The president also said he believes O'Rourke is "highly overrated."
The Democrat drew a crowd of 55,000 people at a rally in Austin with country music star Willie Nelson last month and pulled in a staggering $ 38.1 million during the third fundraising quarter, more than three times The total amount of $ 12 million during the same period.
"What I heard about him, I figured he must be something a little special. He's not, "Trump said, adding that O'Rourke" got beaten badly "in his debates against Cruz.
Trump visited Cruz's home city to boost momentum for his onetime foe on the first day of early voting in Texas.
The Monday evening rally was moved to the Toyota Center in downtown Houston, NRG Arena, the initial venue. A Trump campaign spokesman said the smaller NRG Arena, which accommodates fewer than 10,000 people, was the only facility they could secure in time.
"Due to a lack of demand, we continue to push for and negotiate for the Toyota Center," the spokesman said. A goal at Toyota Center official told the Dallas Morning News that Trump helps reach out just a few hours before the president's campaign manager, Brad Parscale, tweeted that the rally was moved to the Toyota Center, home of the Houston Rockets, which seats more than 18,000 people.
Both are a far cry from Trump's promise earlier this year to campaign for Cruz in "the biggest stadium in Texas we can find."
Sonmez reported from Washington.
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