![Trump Doubles Down On His Attacks On 'Whack Job' Ted Cruz [images via Getty & CNN screen shot]](https://images.dailycaller.com/image/width=960,height=411,fit=cover,f=auto/https://cdn01.dailycaller.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/Trump-Doubles-Down-On-His-Attacks-On-Whack-Job-Ted-Cruz-images-via-Getty-CNN-e1454387052523.jpg "Trump Doubles Down On His Attacks On 'Whack Job' Ted Cruz [images via Getty & CNN screen shot]")
Donald Trump sarcastically replied to Republican presidential rival [crscore]Ted Cruz[/crscore]’s offer for a one-on-one debate by suggesting they meet for a televised showdown in Cruz’s native Canada.
“Even though I beat him in the first six debates, especially the last one, Ted Cruz wants to debate me again,” Trump tweeted on Wednesday. “Can we do it in Canada?”
On Tuesday, the New York businessman’s campaign said the candidate “knows a bad deal when he sees one” and would be declining an invitation to participate in the Fox News-sponsored debate this week. (RELATED: Trump Backs Out Of Fox News Debate [VIDEO])
“He will not be participating in the FOX News debate and will instead host an event in Iowa to raise money for the Veterans and Wounded Warriors, who have been treated so horribly by our all talk, no action politicians,” Trump’s campaign said. “Like running for office as an extremely successful person, this takes guts and it is the kind mentality our country needs in order to Make America Great Again.”
After the announcement, Cruz, appearing on Mark Levin’s radio show, challenged Trump to a one-on-one debate.
“If Donald is afraid of Megyn Kelly, I would like to invite him on your show to participate in a one on one debate, between me and Donald,” Cruz said.
By mentioning Canada, Trump was drawing attention to his questions about his rival’s eligibility. Cruz was born in Canada but says he’s eligible to be president because his mom was American. Trump has expressed doubt that makes him a natural-born American.
In an interview this week with The Daily Caller, Cruz’s father dismissed Trump’s birthplace attacks. (RELATED: Ted Cruz’s Father Cautions Voters To Consider Donald Trump’s Past Stances On Abortion And Marriage)
“That’s a distraction,” Rafael Cruz said. “That has been settled for over 200 years. Just think of the thousands and thousands of missionaries that have gone overseas and had children overseas, are those children U.S. citizens by birth? Absolutely. Think about the thousands of military personnel that have gone overseas and have had children overseas. Are they citizens by birth? Absolutely. But not only [crscore]John McCain[/crscore] was born in Panama, George Romney who ran for president was born in Mexico.”
“We need to focus on the issues at hand,” Rafael Cruz added.