President Obama’s spokesman jabbed Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) on Thursday for appearing at a protest against the Iran nuclear deal outside the White House, dubbing it “a pro-war rally.”
“I was aware Sen. Cruz was planning to hold a pro-war rally,” press secretary Josh Earnest told reporters.
{mosads}Earnest declined to comment further on the event, including the GOP presidential candidate’s claim that Iran would use money obtained from sanctions relief to kill Americans.
“If this deal goes through … over $100 million will flow to Iran,” Cruz said at the rally, adding the money “will be used to fund jihadists who will murder Americans, murder Israelis, murder Europeans.”
The White House has sought to frame the debate over the Iran deal as a choice between using diplomacy to cut off its path to a nuclear weapon and using military force.
Critics have said that’s a false choice and that Obama could have negotiated a better deal.
Earnest took aim at a Republican presidential contender who said he “would be prepared to carry out a military strike against Iran on Inauguration Day,” an apparent reference to Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker, who recently said the next president “could be called to take aggressive actions, including military actions, on their very first day in office.”
Cruz and other Republicans should say if they agree, Earnest said.
Thursday’s demonstration at the White House, organized by the conservative group Concerned Women for America, targeted the nuclear agreement with Iran and called for the return of four American citizens who are detained or missing in Iran.
Cruz, who is running for president in 2016, was pictured debating with demonstrators from the liberal anti-war group Code Pink at the event in Lafayette Park.
Updated at 2:20 p.m.