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U.S. NEWS A3
Thursday 10 September
Trump, Cruz Protest Iran Deal At Capitol Rally
Continued from front slammed President Barack Former Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin speaks during a rally opposing the
Obama’s endorsement of Iran nuclear deal outside the Capitol in Washington, Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2015.
“You cannot wash your the complex deal without
hands of that,” he said, negotiating the release (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)
naming House Speaker of four Americans who re-
John Boehner and Senate main in captivity in Iran.
Majority Leader Mitch Mc- Trump added this pledge:
Connell, both Republicans, “If I win the presidency I
as two men who could guarantee you that these
stand in the way. four prisoners are back in
“Any commander-in-chief our country before I ever
worthy of defending this take office.”
nation should be prepared Trump did not explain how
to stand up on Jan. 20, he would accomplish that
2017 and rip to shreds this goal.
catastrophic deal.” The event highlights the
The pairing at Wednes- unique relationship be-
day’s rally, sponsored by tween Trump and Cruz, a
tea party and pro-Israel tea party hero who helped
activists, is the product shut the federal govern-
of what Trump acknowl- ment in 2013 and ultimately
edged beforehand as “a needs the same frustrated
little bit of a romance” voters who have pushed
at this early stage of the Trump to a surprising lead
2016 presidential race. In in early polls.
fact, the senator and the As Republican competitors
real estate developer are turn against Trump, Cruz
competing for many of the has offered only praise.
same anti-establishment, The strategy could pay div-
core Republican activists. idends for Cruz in the com-
The two spoke outside the ing months, if Trump drops
Capitol as Congress de- out of the race.
bated the deal, which is Still, Trump assured the
designed to keep Iran from group: “I’m not dropping
acquiring a nuclear weap- out of anything. I never
on. Republicans and Israel drop out.”
say Iran can’t be trusted Some protesters carried
because its leaders want Israeli flags, but more car-
to annihilate the Jewish ried American flags. A few
state. carried posters that said,
The agreement struck by “Jewish lives matter.”
Iran, the U.S., China, Russia, The day gave Trump an
France, Britain and Ger- opportunity to address
many in July would pro- foreign policy less than a
vide Iran hundreds of bil- week after he struggled
lions of dollars in relief from to answer basic questions
international sanctions in about key players in the
exchange for a decade Middle East during a radio
of constraints on the coun- interview.
try’s nuclear program. The protest won’t change
The deal aims to keep Iran the ultimate approval of
at least a year away from the international agree-
being able to produce ment, which has been
enough nuclear material clear for days: Even if a dis-
for a weapon. approval resolution should
In a speech earlier in the pass the House and Senate
day, Democratic presiden- this week, President Barack
tial contender Hillary Rod- Obama would veto it, and
ham Clinton said the deal Democrats have the votes
was not perfect, but she in hand to sustain his veto.
defended it as a win for Former Florida Gov. Jeb
diplomacy that “blocks ev- Bush’s campaign released
ery pathway for Iran to get an Instagram video clip on
a bomb. the eve of the rally, using
” The comments marked a Trump’s words against him.
sharp contrast to Cruz and Asked in a 2007 CNN in-
Trump, who lashed out at terview who he’d like to
the agreement over and represent the U.S. in a deal
over without offering spe- with Iran, Trump responds,
cific alternatives. “I think Hillary would do a
Both candidates also good job.”q
