Cruz apologizes on Facebook for Biden joke

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Republican presidential hopeful Ted Cruz apologized Thursday on his Facebook account for making a joke about Vice President Joe Biden -- less than a week after his eldest son died from brain cancer.

The Texas senator made the joke during an appearance Wednesday in Howell, Mich. In it, Cruz poked fun at Biden’s sometimes controversial remarks.

“Vice President Joe Biden. You know the nice thing? You don’t need a punchline,” the Texas senator said during the GOP dinner in Michigan. “I promise you it works. The next party you’re at, just walk up to someone and say, ‘Vice President Joe Biden’ and just close your mouth. They will crack up laughing.”

It was a joke Cruz has told numerous times before.

In his Facebook post, Cruz said, “It was a mistake to use an old joke about Joe Biden during his time of grief, and I sincerely apologize.”

A funeral Mass will be held in Delaware Saturday for 46-year-old Beau Biden.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.