Sen. Ted Cruz is leaving open the possibility of another run for the White House in 2028, saying Sunday that his immediate priority is helping Republicans in November’s midterm elections and that decisions about his own political future will come later.

Asked during an appearance on NBC News’ “Meet the Press” whether he was seriously weighing another presidential campaign, the Texas Republican stopped short of ruling it out, instead emphasizing his work on behalf of GOP candidates around the country.

“The Book of Ecclesiastes tells us there’s a time for every season. This is not that season right now. This is the season of the midterms, and I’ll tell you, I’m spending my time on the road, campaigning for candidates all over the country,” Cruz said.

“There will be a time for that conversation,” he added when pressed about running for president.

The remarks came after Cruz said in a separate interview with MS NOW that Republicans should not assume Vice President JD Vance has already been chosen as President Donald Trump’s political heir.

“There’ll be time to figure that out,” Cruz said in that interview. “I’ll certainly be part of the discussion.”

Trump himself fueled speculation about a possible Cruz candidacy when he was asked Thursday at the White House whether the Texas senator might seek the presidency in 2028.

“I would say that he’s very talented. He’s a very good friend of mine. I think he might do that, yeah,” Trump said.

Cruz previously sought the Republican presidential nomination in 2016 and became one of Trump’s most formidable primary opponents. He ended his campaign after losing the Indiana primary. Although the contest between the two included an intensely personal exchange of attacks, Cruz and Trump subsequently developed a close political alliance.

During Sunday’s interview, Cruz also turned his attention to Venezuela, renewing his demand for democratic elections following the Trump administration’s announcement that the United States had obtained majority control of more than 65 billion barrels of Venezuela’s proven oil reserves.

“There need to be democratic, free elections in Venezuela,” Cruz said, calling for elections to be held “midway through next year.”

Acting Venezuelan President Delcy Rodríguez assumed power after U.S. forces captured Nicolas Maduro in January and transported him to the United States to face drug trafficking charges.

“Delcy Rodríguez was Nicolas Maduro’s vice president,” Cruz said. “Maduro was illegitimate. He was a Marxist. He had seized power contrary to the will of the voters, and from the beginning, I have been urging, and I believe the administration is working towards this, that there should be free and fair elections.”

Cruz said he believes the Trump administration is “working rapidly” toward holding elections in Venezuela, while arguing that those efforts can move forward at the same time as the newly announced oil arrangement.

“The oil deal as announced sounds like it could have a very positive impact on the United States and the United States economy, on American jobs, and a very positive impact on gas prices over the long term,” Cruz said.

The Texas senator said Venezuela should hold elections “no later than midway through next year.”

Earlier this month, Cruz joined senators from both parties in introducing a resolution expressing U.S. support for free and fair elections in Venezuela.

Cruz also weighed in on the U.S. military conflict with Iran, saying the ultimate objective should be the collapse of the Iranian government and urging the Trump administration to provide weapons to protesters seeking to overthrow the regime.

“I would like to see the longer-term objective be regime collapse,” Cruz said.

At the same time, Cruz argued against deploying American ground troops to Iran, saying the United States should instead arm Iranians seeking to bring down the government themselves.

“What I’ve been urging is for President Trump and the Trump administration to arm the protesters, so that the people of Iran … remove this regime from power,” Cruz said. “Not American boots on the ground, but the Iranian people.”

Trump recently posted an image on Truth Social declaring “mission accomplished” in Iran. Cruz said Sunday that the “initial mission” of weakening Iran’s military capabilities had been achieved, while arguing that the eventual removal of the Iranian leadership should remain a longer-term goal.

{Matzav.com}