Trump Jr.: Cruz ‘lying thru his teeth’

Donald Trump Jr. on Wednesday slammed Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) for criticizing the U.S.-Iran memorandum of understanding (MOU) for investing in Iran’s reconstruction.

Trump Jr. said Cruz was “lying thru his teeth” in a post on the social platform X, accusing the senator of not being aligned with MAGA initiatives.

“The only problem with this quote is that @tedcruz is lying thru his teeth about the deal. We’re not giving them a cent and he knows that. Using fake news about the peace deal to undermine @realDonaldTrump is the opposite of MAGA.”

On Wednesday, Cruz described the MOU as an “ill-advised” deal that would “not remotely” benefit American interests.

“History teaches that giving billions of dollars to theocratic lunatics who want to murder us is not a good idea. I think the president is receiving some very poor advice on this deal,” Cruz told The Hill.

The MOU between the U.S. and Iran includes a $300 billion fund to help reconstruct Iran. President Trump has said the U.S. will not provide money for the fund, but companies in the U.S., the Gulf states, Asia, South America and Africa have already agreed to commit to financing more than half of the $300 billion fund, according to Reuters.

Payouts are slated to go toward the energy, logistics, manufacturing and transport sectors, per the outlet.

Critics of the deal have not only slammed the fund but also provisions that would allow Tehran to keep its missile systems and sell its oil quickly. A number of Senate Republicans have blasted the MOU.

Trump said the federal government won’t be putting “10 cents” toward the redevelopment efforts at the Group of Seven summit in France.

“We have the right to go in some day and do, if I want to do something, or if somebody wants to do something, but we are not investing any money,” he added in his remarks to reporters.