President Trump on Wednesday called Rep. Beto O’Rourke, D-Texas, a "flake" who wants higher taxes and more federal regulations after O'Rourke's debate with Sen. Ted Cruz. R-Texas.

“Watched the debate last night & Beto O’Rourke, who wants higher taxes and far more regulations, is not in the same league with Ted Cruz & what the great people of Texas stand for & want,” Trump posted to Twitter the morning after the debate. “Ted is strong on Crime, Border & 2nd A, loves our Military, Vets, Low Taxes. Beto is a Flake!”

[Related: Beto O'Rourke's 'lifelong Republican' mother donated to Democrats, voted in Democratic primaries since 2000]



Watched the debate last night & Beto O’Rourke, who wants higher taxes and far more regulations, is not in the same league with Ted Cruz & what the great people of Texas stand for & want. Ted is strong on Crime, Border & 2nd A, loves our Military, Vets, Low Taxes. Beto is a Flake! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 17, 2018



“Ted Cruz has done so much for Texas, including massive cuts in taxes and regulations - which has brought Texas to the best jobs numbers in the history of the state,” Trump said in another tweet. “He watches carefully over your 2nd Amendment. O’Rourke would blow it all! Ted has long had my Strong Endorsement!”



Ted Cruz has done so much for Texas, including massive cuts in taxes and regulations - which has brought Texas to the best jobs numbers in the history of the state. He watches carefully over your 2nd Amendment. O’Rourke would blow it all! Ted has long had my Strong Endorsement! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 17, 2018



Cruz and O’Rourke held their second and final debate Tuesday night. Cruz has held a moderate lead over O'Rourke in a recent set of polls, and O'Rourke went on the attack during the debate to make up ground.

With just a few weeks to go before voting day in November, Cruz leads O’Rourke with seven percent more likely voters, according to a CNN poll published Tuesday before the debate.

The poll shows Cruz ahead with 52 percent of the vote and O’Rourke with 45 percent, a difference that will mostly likely take Cruz through to a victory next month, but is smaller than usual for a Texas senatorial race.