Talk about an awkward dinner party.
Remember when Donald Trump and Ted Cruz got into a Twitter spat over their wives? Well, both couples will be eating dinner together at the White House tonight.
It was less than a year ago that the Twitter fight started, as Trump attacked his fellow GOP presidential contender over a tweet targeting Melania, Trump’s wife.
“Lyin’ Ted Cruz just used a picture of Melania from a G.Q. shoot in his ad,” Trump tweeted. “Be careful, Lyin’ Ted, or I will spill the beans on your wife!”
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
The tweet came after an anti-Trump group that wasn’t controlled by Cruz ran an ad in Utah featuring a provocative picture of Melania, a former model, from a GQ photo shoot more than a decade ago.
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“Pic of your wife not from us,” Cruz tweeted back. “Donald, if you try to attack Heidi, you’re more of a coward than I thought.” Cruz also called Trump “classless” in the tweet.
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
Shortly after the ordeal, Cruz’s wife, Heidi, said that ‘‘the things that Donald Trump says are not based in reality.’’
However, Trump kicked it up a notch by retweeting a composite image featuring an unflattering photo of Heidi next to a photo of Melania.
“No need to ‘spill the beans,’” a caption on the image read. “The images are worth a thousand words.”
"@Don_Vito_08: "A picture is worth a thousand words" @realDonaldTrump #LyingTed #NeverCruz @MELANIATRUMP pic.twitter.com/5bvVEwMVF8"
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 24, 2016
Cruz initially tried to take the high road, posting a response shortly after Trump’s tweet.
“Donald, real men don’t attack women,” he wrote on Twitter. “Your wife is lovely, and Heidi is the love of my life.”
Donald, real men don't attack women. Your wife is lovely, and Heidi is the love of my life. https://t.co/pprXhIMzUT
— Ted Cruz (@tedcruz) March 24, 2016
But speaking to reporters afterwards, Cruz blasted Trump’s tweet.
“It’s not easy to tick me off. I don’t get angry often. But you mess with my wife, you mess with my kids, that will do it every time. Donald, you’re a sniveling coward, and leave Heidi the hell alone,” he said.
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Trump’s history with Cruz hasn’t been all that flattering: He dubbed Cruz “Lyin’ Ted,” and also revived an unsubstantiated claim that linked Cruz’s father to the assassination of former president John F. Kennedy. (In September, shortly before the general election, Cruz ended up endorsing Trump for president.)
At a press briefing Wednesday afternoon, White House spokesman Sean Spicer ducked a reporter’s question on if Trump plans to apologize to the Cruzes.
“I think they’re looking forward to a great dinner,” Spicer said.
Q from @HallieJackson: Is Trump going to apologize to Ted & Heidi Cruz at dinner tonight?
— Bradd Jaffy (@BraddJaffy) March 8, 2017
... pic.twitter.com/guruI35HnY
Which leads us to wonder: What exactly will the married couples talk about? And will Trump strongarm Cruz into ordering the White House meatloaf like he did to Chris Christie?
Guess only time will tell.
Material from the Associated Press was used in this report. Christina Prignano of the Globe staff contributed to this report.