The Texas senator used a line from the 1995 Rob Reiner-directed film during a CNN interview

Ted Cruz Channels Michael Douglas in The American President to Defend Wife Heidi Following Donald Trump Feud

Ted Cruz may have just proven he’s a major movie buff.

During Wednesday morning’s CNN interview, Cruz quoted a line from the 1995 film The American President, starring Michael Douglas, to defend his wife Heidi following his latest feud with rival Donald Trump.

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Trump slammed Cruz on Twitter Tuesday, threatening to "spill the beans" about Heidi after he accused the Texas senator of creating a meme with a nude photo of Trump’s wife Melania from her 2000 British GQ shoot.

Cruz responded calling the GOP front-runner a “coward” hours before appearing on CNN. “If Donald wants to get in a character fight, he’s better off sticking with me because Heidi is way out of his league,” Cruz said during his interview.

Sound familiar? Well, Free Beacon‘s Lachlan Markay pointed out that Cruz borrowed the line from fictitious U.S. President Andrew Shepherd, whom Douglas played in the Aaron Sorkin-scripted drama. In the 1995 film, Richard Dreyfuss’ character attacks the president’s love interest, played by Annette Bening.