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Ted Cruz Apologizes for Mocking Joe Biden Days After His Son’s Death

Ted Cruz and Joe Biden
Ted Cruz made a poorly timed joke about Joe Biden

Kicking him when he's down. Ted Cruz was forced to apologize on Wednesday evening, June 3, after he made a poorly timed joke about Vice President Joe Biden.

The Republican Senator representing Texas, 44, used Biden as a punch line on Wednesday, just days after the VP suffered the death of his son Beau Biden. Cruz, who is in the early stages of a presidential campaign, was speaking at a GOP event in Howell, Mich., when he took a jab at President Obama's right-hand man.

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"Vice President Joe Biden. You know the nice thing?" Cruz began, according to NBC News. "You don't need a punch line. I promise you it works. The next party you're at, just walk up to someone and say, 'Vice President Joe Biden' and just close your mouth. They will crack up laughing."

The presidential hopeful was cornered by a reporter after his speech, and questioned about his decision to tease Biden as he mourns the loss of his child. Cruz said the death of Beau at the age of 46 was "heartbreaking and tragic" and added that his prayers "are very much with [Biden]," but when asked point-blank why he made the joke, Cruz simply shook his head and walked away.

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Beau, who died of brain cancer, is the second child that Biden has had to bury. The politician previously lost his young daughter Naomi and his first wife Neilia Hunter in a tragic car accident in 1972. He will say goodbye to his oldest son at a funeral this Saturday.

Cruz faced outcry following his joke at Biden's expense, and subsequently took to Facebook on Wednesday evening to apologize.

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"It was a mistake to use an old joke about Joe Biden during his time of grief, and I sincerely apologize," he wrote. "The loss of his son is heartbreaking and tragic, and our prayers are very much with the Vice President and his family."

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