FORT WAYNE, IN— In the latest developments on the campaign trail, Texas Sen. Ted Cruz said Thursday that former House Speaker John Boehner let his “inner Trump come out” when he called Cruz “Lucifer in the flesh” during a talk to students at Stanford University.

Responding to comments made by Boehner in the town hall-style event Wednesday, Cruz attempted to turn Boehner’s graphic criticism into a slam on Republican presidential front-runner Donald Trump before a campaign stop in Fort Wayne, Indiana Thursday.

Boehner made a face when asked his thoughts on Cruz, according to a report in Stanford’s student newspaper, and told the Stanford audience that he had “I have Democrat friends and Republican friends. I get along with almost everyone, but I have never worked with a more miserable son of a bitch in my life.”

But Cruz, when asked by reporters to react to the comments, said he had never worked with Boehner and would be surprised if they ever exchanged more than 50 words.

“The truth of the matter is I don’t know the man,” Cruz said.

Cruz added a message to voters: “When John Boehner calls me Lucifer, he’s not directing that at me. He’s directing that at you.”

Boehner stepped down as speaker last fall before retiring from Congress.

SCOTT BAUER, Associated Press