Story highlights Donald Trump told Ted Cruz that if he wants to knock New York "you've got to go through me"

Cruz hit back against Trump this week after more than a week of deflecting his attacks on his birth in Canada

Washington (CNN) New York Rep. Peter King had some sharp words for Republican presidential candidate Ted Cruz on Thursday, in the wake of the Texas senator's attempt to criticize Donald Trump.

Cruz, who had been playing nice with Trump for much of the campaign, recently attempted to disparage the real estate mogul by accusing him of possessing "New York values." The attack came after Trump raised questions over the Canadian-born Cruz's ability to serve as president.

Trump "may shift in his new rallies to playing 'New York New York,' because you know Donald comes from New York and he embodies New York values," Cruz said Tuesday on "The Howie Carr Show" on Boston-based WRKO.

King, a Republican, had a pointed response for Cruz.

"Memo to Ted Cruz: New York Values are the heroes of 9/11; the cops who fight terror; and the people you ask for campaign donations. Go back under a rock," King said in a statement to CNN Thursday.

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