Trump, Cruz Spar Over NCHB2

NORTH CAROLINA — Transgender people should be able to use whatever bathroom they want. So says Republican presidential front-runner Donald Trump.

North Carolina’s controversial House Bill 2 moved front and center in the GOP race today, with Trump and Texas senator Ted Cruz talking about bathrooms.

Cruz and Trump sparred today over North Carolina’s controversial new law requiring transgender residents to use public restrooms that correspond with the sex listed on their birth certificates. Trump was asked about the law on NBC’s Today Show Thursday morning.

“North Carolina, what they’re going through, with all of the business that is leaving and all of the strife, and it’s on both sides,” said Trump. “You leave it the way it is. There have been very few complaints the way it is. People go, they use the bathroom that they feel is appropriate. There has been so little trouble.”

Trump also said Caitlyn Jenner could use whichever bathroom she chooses at Trump Tower.

The Donald’s words prompted immediate reaction from his main Republican rival.

Cruz tweeted: “We shouldn’t be facilitating putting little girls alone in a bathroom with grown men. that’s just a bad, bad, bad idea.”

Later the senator had more to say on the campaign trail in Maryland.

“Donald on television this morning said, gosh, he thought that men should be able to go into the girl’s bathroom if they want to,” said Cruz.

Cruz connected Trump’s comments to President Obama and Democratic front-runner Hillary Clinton before praising House Bill 2.

“I’m the father of two little girls, here is basic common sense, grown adult men, strangers, should not be alone in a bathroom with little girls,” Cruz told supporters.

Governor McCrory’s campaign released a response to Trump’s comments saying: “North Carolina was getting along fine before the Charlotte city council passed its unneeded and overreaching ordinance.”

The North Carolina General Assembly reconvenes April 25th. Democrats plan to introduce legislation to repeal HB2. Republicans have vowed to fight those efforts.