“When it comes to Donald Trump, I like Donald Trump. I think he’s terrific. I think he’s brash. I think he speaks the truth,” Cruz said during an interview on “Fox and Friends” promoting his new book. “And I think NBC is engaging in political correctness that is silly and that is wrong.”

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Cruz, also a GOP presidential contender, was responding to NBC’s decision to end its working relationship with Trump over comments he made calling Mexican immigrants to the United States mostly “rapists” and drug dealers.

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Asked whether Trump should apologize, Cruz said no.

“I don’t think you should apologize for speaking out against the problem that is illegal immigration. I recognize that the PC world of the mainstream media, they don’t want to admit it, but the American people are fed up,” Cruz said. He added that “legal immigration” should be celebrated.

Cruz distanced himself a little from Trump’s assertion that most illegal immigrants crossing the U.S-Mexican border are criminals.

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“They’re not mostly that. But Donald Trump has a way of speaking that gets attention. And I credit him for focusing on an issue that needs to be focused on,” Cruz said.

Trump tweeted to Cruz: “Thank you, Ted.”

Cruz, who like Trump has a reputation for blunt speech that creates controversy, has worked to stay in Trump’s good graces. Last year, Trump donated to Cruz’s political action committee.

When Trump entered the presidential race, Cruz released a statement welcoming him: “His experience as a successful businessman and job creator will prove crucial to ensuring the eventual GOP nominee is not only well-equipped to defeat Hillary Clinton in November, but also to make America great again.” (The last line is Trump’s trademarked slogan.)

Trump/Cruz 2016?