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Trump and Cruz Team Up at a Tea Party Rally Protesting the Iran Nuclear Deal

The Republican presidential hopefuls decried the deal in front of a couple thousand supporters on Capitol Hill as Congress debated the nuclear deal with Iran.
Photo by Susan Walsh/AP

What's the one topic that could unite a billionaire businessman, a firebrand Texas senator, and a duck-hunting reality TV star? The Iran nuclear deal.

On Wednesday afternoon, two Republican presidential candidates, Senator Ted Cruz and Donald Trump, shared the stage on the lawn of the Capitol in Washington, DC. They were joined by Duck Dynasty star Phil Robertson, former Alaska governor Sarah Palin, and several other conservative leaders who called on Congress to reject the deal, as lawmakers in the House and Senate gathered to debate a disapproval resolution.

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Though Cruz was originally set to headline the event, he ended up also inviting Trump, who has dominated polls and press coverage in the early stages of the race for the Republican nomination.

"I've never seen something so incompetently negotiated — and I mean never," Trump said to a crowd of a couple thousand supporters sweltering under the midday sun. "We are led by very, very stupid people. We cannot let it continue."

Related: Critics Say Nuclear Deal Will 'Fuel Iran's Terrorism'

Cruz's message both in and outside the Capitol was the same, having argued on the Senate floor that "this terrible deal will not stop a virulently anti-American and anti-Israeli regime from getting a nuclear bomb."

Cruz attempted to delay the vote the Senate, arguing that President Barack Obama had not submitted to Congress details of any "side deals" negotiated alongside the nuclear accord, meaning the official "review period has not started."

"The administration has not submitted the deal," he said. "Accordingly, we should not be voting on a resolution of disapproval."

Congressional Democrats scoffed at both Cruz's remarks and the rally.

"It's cute, but this thing has a deadline," House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi told reporters.

Related: Obama Sells Saudi King on Iran Nuclear Deal During White House Visit

"The other side can roll out their big guns on this if they wish, but frankly I think most members of the Senate Democratic Caucus are not going to be swayed by Mr. Trump, our colleague, Senator Cruz, or even a former vice president," Illinois Senator Dick Durbin said, referring to former Vice President Dick Cheney, who on Tuesday called the deal "madness."

Republicans have not been shy in voicing opposition to the deal and rallied hard to push through a law earlier this year giving Congress power to review the deal. The assembly now has until September 17 to pass or put down a disapproval resolution.