Trump, angry about an anti-Trump Super PAC that was running Facebook ads featuring photos from a nude photo shoot his wife Melania did for GQ several years ago, sent out this tweet, which was swiftly deleted:
Trump deleted this tweet in about 7 seconds pic.twitter.com/rvKqgPVEB6
— Stefan Becket (@becket) March 23, 2016
But Trump didn’t delete the tweet because it was threatening Cruz’s wife—he deleted it because he forgot to call Cruz “Lyin’ Ted.” A few seconds later, he tweeted it again:
Lyin' Ted Cruz just used a picture of Melania from a G.Q. shoot in his ad. Be careful, Lyin' Ted, or I will spill the beans on your wife!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 23, 2016
Trump has repeatedly violated political norms—and going after an opponent’s wife is certainly a violation of political norms—but lows like this are the new normal when you’re writing about Trump. The bigger question is why Trump tweets this a few minutes before polls close, given that the ad has been circulating for at least two days and Cruz isn’t personally responsible.
Anti-Trump group is running Facebook ads to drive up Mormon turnout in Utah and Arizona. https://t.co/v6ZZPKPMPp pic.twitter.com/Gps5KPbb2T
— McKay Coppins (@mckaycoppins) March 21, 2016
Trump tends to lash out when he’s losing, and he will almost certainly lose Utah by a wide margin.
Update: Cruz responds.
Pic of your wife not from us. Donald, if you try to attack Heidi, you're more of a coward than I thought. #classless https://t.co/0QpKSnjgnE
— Ted Cruz (@tedcruz) March 23, 2016