Sen. Ted Cruz: Obama 'Absolutely Abusing His Power'

Sen. Ted Cruz, the Texas Republican whose father compared President Barack Obama to Cuban dictator Fidel Castro, says the president has "absolutely been abusing his power."

In an interview with Fusion, a new network formed in a joint venture between ABC News and Univision, Cruz said he was "very concerned about . . . the explosion of power in the federal government."

"We've got the NSA seizing our cellphone records, our emails, and we have seen this president expand presidential power in a way that is contrary to the Constitution," Cruz said.

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Host Jorge Ramos recounted  the comparison Cruz’s father, Rafael — who emigrated from Cuba during the revolution — made between Obama and Castro. Then he asked Cruz whether he agreed, and whether he thought Obama was a dictator.

"Look, obviously there are enormous differences between President Obama and Fidel Castro," Cruz responded.

"But his point was, he was focusing on a statement President Obama made at the State of the Union where he said if Congress doesn't act to enact his agenda that he will do it anyway on his own," Cruz said.

"I think he has absolutely been abusing his power, and when you have a president who says, regardless of whether Congress acts, I'm going to force my agenda on the American people, that's wrong, that's not consistent with our constitutional protections."

The interview aired Monday on Fusion's "America with Jorge Ramos."

Cruz ignited the “Defund Obamacare” movement in Congress, which caused the 16-day government shutdown.

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He also is considered a likely contender in the Republican race for president in 2016.

Over the weekend, he visited Iowa, the state that kicks off the primary cycle, and he is expected to soon visit South Carolina, another early primary state.