A nearly decade-old video clip featuring U.S. Senator Ted Cruz has dramatically resurfaced online, casting a stark light on the current geopolitical tensions surrounding Greenland and Denmark. The clip, from the heated 2016 Republican presidential primary, shows Cruz issuing a stark warning about Donald Trump's temperament, using a then-hypothetical scenario that now feels uncomfortably relevant.
A Prophetic Warning from the Campaign Trail
The footage was recorded just two days after Cruz's victory in the Iowa caucuses. In it, a reporter in New Hampshire asks Cruz if Trump's comments had "crossed the line." Cruz responded by charging the future president with "losing it" and emphasized that America did not need a "twitterer-in-chief." He then delivered his now-viral critique of Trump's judgment.
"I don't know anyone who would be comfortable with someone who behaves this way having his finger on the button," Cruz stated. "I mean, we're liable to wake up one morning and Donald, if he were president, would have nuked Denmark. That's not the temperament of a leader to keep this country safe."
This exchange occurred shortly after Trump, who had initially congratulated Cruz on his Iowa win, quickly pivoted to accusing the Texas senator of fraud to secure the victory. The primary battle was famously bitter, with Trump later insulting Cruz's wife and father during his march to the Republican nomination and the presidency.
Eerie Echoes in Current Events
The clip's resurgence is no accident. It has bubbled back into public discourse as former President Trump has recently dialed up his rhetoric about acquiring Greenland, a semi-autonomous territory of Denmark. On his Truth Social platform, Trump declared that "anything less" than gaining control of Greenland would be "unacceptable."
This renewed interest has drawn a firm response from Danish officials. Following a meeting at the White House, Denmark's Foreign Minister, Lars Løkke Rasmussen, stated that a "fundamental disagreement" over the Arctic island persists. He also cautioned the United States against crossing the "red lines" of both Denmark and Greenland.
Social Media Reacts to the 'Jaw-Dropping' Irony
The rediscovery of Cruz's comments has sparked a wave of reactions across social media platforms, with many users highlighting the darkly prescient nature of his words.
One user on the platform Bluesky charged the senator with having enabled Trump "all the way" to a potential attack, while others joked that the clip had "aged well." Another user on X (formerly Twitter) called it "an incredible clip in that it’s absolutely jaw-dropping that Ted Cruz was actually ever prescient about anything."
The irony of Cruz's transformation from a fierce critic to a staunch Trump ally was a central theme. One viral post juxtaposed Cruz's 2016 warning with a mock 2026 quote: "Ted Cruz in 2016, 'We're liable to wake up one morning and Donald Trump if he was President would have nuked Denmark.' Ted Cruz in 2026, 'And I support that 100%.'"
Observers noted the broader political narrative, with one commenter stating, "Every Republican leader knew who Trump was. And the danger he posed. But once he humiliated them, they then surrendered to him completely... He couldn't have done it without them."
The resurfaced video serves as a stark reminder of the volatile 2016 campaign and the dramatic political realignments that followed. It also underscores how past warnings can gain new, unsettling significance in light of current events, as the hypothetical scenario of conflict with Denmark moves from a campaign trail punchline to a subject of serious diplomatic discussion.
