Former presidential candidate Ted Cruz ripped the Obama administration Saturday over its transgender bathroom directive, calling it "politically correct lunacy."
"The president issued a decree to every public school in America demanding that they change their bathroom policies, demanding that every public school now allow grown men and boys into little girls' bathrooms," the senator told the Texas Republican Convention in Dallas,
CBS News reports. "We have entered the world of politically correct lunacy."
The White House on Friday issued new guidelines from the Justice and Education Departments instructing public schools to allow transgender students to use bathrooms and locker rooms that corresponded to their gender identity, rather than what is listed on their birth certificate.
The move prompted widespread outrage among Republicans and came the same week that North Carolina and the administration sued each other over a state law
Gov. Pat McCrory signed in March.
"There is nothing in the Constitution that gives the president the power to be the bathroom police for this country," Cruz said in his first major speech since quitting the 2016 campaign on May 3.
He also thanked Texas Republicans for their support during his bid for the nomination.
"It has been a privilege to run the campaign and stand with each of you," Cruz said. "From the bottom of my heart, thank you."
The senator filed papers this week for a run for his congressional seat in 2018, though he hinted that he might seek the White House again someday.
"I don't know what the future will hold," Cruz said.
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