Why a ‘smirking’ Ted Cruz is holding up Joe Biden’s global outreach

Texas senator claims president has given a gift to Russia, writes Andrew Buncombe

Ted Cruz claims Joe Biden has given a ‘gift’ to Russia (Getty)

Ted Cruz can be a singular beast.

Anyone who has witnessed the Texan’s journey from rabble-rousing senator to presidential hopeful knows there are few things he will not do – no insanity he will not swallow – if he perceives it will work to his benefit.

In the Republican presidential primary race that generated much noise and bluster in 2016, he positioned himself as a principled conservative who would defend the US constitution, without resorting to the rhetoric of Donald Trump.