Ted Cruz has said the quiet part out loud over the 2024 presidential election

Republicans – and Joe Biden in part – are all waiting on Donald Trump, writes Chris Stevenson

‘The whole world will change depending on what Donald Trump decides,’ said Ted Cruz (AFP/Getty)

There were some interesting words from Texas senator Ted Cruz in recent days – or at least notable, in that they offered an insight into the possible thinking of a number of potential 2024 Republican presidential candidates.

You may not find anything Cruz has to say interesting, Hillary Clinton called him an “eternal blowhard” on a talk show on Thursday. But as someone who lost to Donald Trump in the GOP presidential primary in 2016 (having gained some early momentum but ending up with 551 delegates to Trump’s 1,441) and is considering another run at the White House, there is some very specific merit in his words about the broader state of his party.

“There are a lot of candidates out there feeling their oats and boasting, ‘I’m running no matter what. I don’t care what Donald Trump says.’ Anyone who says that is lying,” Cruz told the Washington Examiner. “That’s an idiotic statement for someone to make who’s actually thinking about running.” An honest assessment of the hold that Trump still has on a majority of the party. The former president has strongly hinted he wants a second term – but has not made his announcement yet.

“I don’t know what Trump’s going to decide – nobody does,” Cruz added. “Anybody who tells you they do is making things up. The whole world will change depending on what Donald Trump decides. That’s true for every candidate. That’s true of every potential candidate.”

The gist? Cruz is saying he would not go up against Trump again, essentially admitting that if Trump decides to try and become the Republican nominee again, it’s unlikely that anyone would be able to stand in his way. While Cruz and other possible contenders have been doing events (generally in aid of midterm candidates) in significant primary states like New Hampshire, it is all of little consequence until Trump announces his decision.

That decision also has an impact on President Joe Biden. The current White House incumbent has stepped up his rhetoric against Trump in recent weeks – with the endorsement of midterm candidates by Trump having the potential to make a significant impact. Biden has also spoken about the need to protect democracy, relating to Trump’s false claims about the result of the 2020 presidential election. The president made mention of the sanctity of democracy at an event at the Pentagon to mark the anniversary of the 9/11 attacks on Sunday – but the rhetoric was notably toned down.

If the Democrats are looking at a direct challenge from Trump in 2024, then the plan to face that is already being formed. But such language will not have the same impact on another candidate. It appears that both the Republicans and Democrats are waiting on Trump.