Ted Cruz calls Trump 'sniveling coward' for wife tweet

Ted Cruz hit back hard at his rival Donald Trump, who made headlines Thursday for tweeting an unflattering photo of Cruz's wife.

"It's not easy to tick me off. I don't get angry often. But you mess with my wife, you mess with my kids, that'll do it every time. Donald you're a sniveling coward and leave Heidi the hell alone," Cruz told reporters at a Wisconsin campaign event.

14 things to know about Heidi Cruz

Heidi Cruz has had a long and prosperous political and private sector career before choosing to support Ted Cruz's presidential campaign. Few candidates' spouses have accomplished as much as she has in the political world (aside from that guy Hillary Clinton married). Here's what you should know about the woman who wants to be first lady. less 14 things to know about Heidi Cruz

Heidi Cruz has had a long and prosperous political and private sector career before choosing to support Ted Cruz's presidential campaign. Few candidates' spouses have ... more Photo: Erich Schlegel, Getty Images Photo: Erich Schlegel, Getty Images Image 1 of / 23 Caption Close Ted Cruz calls Trump 'sniveling coward' for wife tweet 1 / 23 Back to Gallery

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It's the latest update in a an ongoing feud between the candidates regarding their wives, in which Trump has been the sole aggressor.

Upset by a pro-Cruz group's ad featuring images from Melania Trump's 2000 nude photo shoot, the billionaire threatened on Twitter to "spill the beans" on Cruz's wife Heidi.

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Cruz brushed off the attack, warning Trump not to aim for his wife.

Then late Wednesday, Trump retweeted an unflattering photo of Heidi Cruz next to a glamour shot of Melania Trump -- an obvious comparison of the two women's looks, which was widely denounced as demeaning to women.

"Real men don't attack women," Cruz tweeted back.