David Jackson

USA TODAY

WASHINGTON — It's not every day the president dines with a man whose father he once suggested was involved in the JFK assassination — or that a man dines with a president who once referred to him as "Lyin' Ted."

Donald Trump and Ted Cruz, together again.

The president hosts a White House dinner Wednesday for the Texas senator, his wife Heidi, and their two daughters, Trump's latest effort to reach out to some of his critics, including those who opposed him in the 2016 Republican primaries.

While Trump called Cruz "Lyin' Ted" during the campaign — and Cruz responded by describing the future president as a "pathological liar" — both made the right noises ahead of their White House bread breaking.

"It's an opportunity for our families to visit together and to spend some relaxed time in the residence," Cruz told reporters.

There are no apologies on the menu, officials said.

"This is a president who is going to engage with everybody who can help join in proposing ideas and thoughts and opinions on how to move the country forward," White House spokesman Sean Spicer said. "So, he looks forward to dinner tonight with Senator and Mrs. Cruz, as he has with several others."

Since moving into the White House on Jan. 20, Trump has had dinners and meetings with a number of past critics, including primary rivals Gov. John Kasich of Ohio and Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida. Other GOP election opponents, Ben Carson and Rick Perry, found their way into Trump's Cabinet.

The GOP race between Trump and Cruz turned particularly nasty, however.

At one point, Trump poked at Heidi Cruz's looks, tweeting out an unflattering picture of her next to a glamour shot of Melania Trump, a former professional model. Then there was the JFK incident: In a television interview, Trump referenced a tabloid report that somehow tried to link Cruz's father to presidential assassin Lee Harvey Oswald.

Cruz, meanwhile, accused Trump of planting tabloid stories alleging marital infidelity. Having denounced Trump as "utterly amoral," Cruz pointedly refused to endorse the nominee during a speech at the Republican convention. In September, under heavy pressure from Trump backers, Cruz did endorse him — via a Facebook posting.

Read more:

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There he goes again: Trump slams 'ruined' Ted Cruz

After insulting tweet, Cruz tells Trump: Leave my wife 'the hell alone'

Preparing for a culinary fence-mending session, Cruz said his family is looking forward to visiting the White House.

"Both Caroline and Catherine are excited to join the president this evening and I hope and expect it will be a delightful evening,” the Texas senator said.

Earlier this week, Trump lunched with another ex-opponent: South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham, who had attacked Trump repeatedly in the early part of the campaign. Trump responded in part by disclosing Graham's private cellphone number, forcing the senator to invest in a new device.

After this week's meeting, Graham tweeted that things went "great" and Trump is "strongly committed to rebuilding our military which is music to my ears."

And, Graham said: "I gave him my NEW cell phone number."