Standing outside of a private club for fancy men this morning, senator and presidential hopeful Ted Cruz made it clear that he is ready to buck with Barack Obama. “If you want to insult me, you can do it overseas, you can do it in Turkey, you can do it in foreign countries,” Cruz intoned. “But I would encourage you, Mr. President, come back and insult me to my face.”

Previously, Obama called Cruz’s proposal that America admit Christian Syrian refugees but not Muslims “shameful,” which it is. The senator’s tough talk in response culminated in a WWF-style challenge to the president: you and me, buddy, debating the merits of your policy on Syria on live TV—I’ll even let you pick the venue.

That will never happen and Ted Cruz knows it, but at least he gets to look like a badass in front of reporters.

For more impact, try channeling less Shane McMahon and more Ric Flair next time.


Image via NBC. Contact the author at andy@gawker.com.