Trump: Cruz’s ‘rambling’ Iowa speech is his ‘Howard Dean moment’

Donald Trump is mocking Sen. Ted Cruz’s victory speech after winning the Iowa caucuses Monday night as his “Howard Dean moment.”

“Anybody who watched all of Ted Cruz’s far too long, rambling, overly flamboyant speech last nite would say that was his Howard Dean moment!” Trump tweeted Tuesday afternoon.

Former Gov. Dean (D-Vt.) was seen as the favorite to win the Democratic Iowa caucuses in 2004 but lost to eventual nominee then-Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.).

{mosads}Dean let out an infamous scream during his speech to supporters in Iowa. It sparked ridicule from late-night comics and came to be known as the “Dean Scream,” with some saying it ended his campaign.

Trump, who was leading in the polls ahead of Iowa, came in second Monday night behind Cruz.

In his speech, Trump said he was honored to finish second and had grown to love Iowa.

He took to social media on Tuesday morning after an unprecedented 15 hours of Twitter silence, saying he had a great experience in Iowa and slamming the media for not giving fair coverage of his “long-shot great finish in Iowa.”

Cruz in a lengthy speech to supporters Monday night called his first place finish a “victory for the grass roots.”

“Tonight is a victory for courageous conservatives across Iowa and all across this great nation. Tonight the state of Iowa has spoken,” he said.

“Iowa has sent notice that the Republican nominee and the next president of this United States will not be chosen by the media, will not be chosen by the Washington establishment, will not be chosen by the lobbyists, but will be chosen by the most incredible powerful force: by we the people, the American people.”