Fox News host Tucker Carlson held Senator Ted Cruz’s feet to the fire after the Texas Republican described the January 6 riot at the Capitol as a “terrorist” attack.
Cruz inexplicably engaged in the type of hyperbolic wordplay that Democrats are known for in describing the events of that day.
“We are approaching a solemn anniversary this week,” he said.
“And it is an anniversary of a violent terrorist attack on the Capitol, where we saw the men and women of law enforcement demonstrate incredible courage, incredible bravery — risk their lives for the Capitol,” added Cruz.
Carlson took exception to that characterization.
Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) calls today a “solemn anniversary” of “a violent terrorist attack on the Capitol.”
Interesting that Cruz doesn’t specify who the terrorists in this case were. pic.twitter.com/kKYkKxckLI
— The Recount (@therecount) January 6, 2022
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Tucker Battles Ted Cruz
Tucker Carlson brought Ted Cruz on to his show to explain why he phrased his description of the Capitol riot in a way nearly indiscernible from his Democrat colleagues.
“I think you’re smarter than I am, and you never use words carelessly. And yet you called this a terror attack when by no definition was it a terror attack. That’s a lie,” confronted Carlson. “You told that lie on purpose, and I’m wondering why you did.”
The backpedaling was almost immediate as Cruz blamed poor phrasing for people missing his message.
Watch:
Ted Cruz explains his “terrorist attack” comment. pic.twitter.com/0xRbmOc5Si
— Tucker Carlson (@TuckerCarlson) January 7, 2022
Cruz portrayed his comments as “sloppy” and “frankly dumb,” but Carlson immediately fired back and said he doesn’t “buy that.”
“I’ve known you a long time since before you went to the Senate. You were a Supreme Court contender,” Carlson persisted. “You take words as seriously as any man who’s ever served in the Senate … I do not believe that you used that accidentally. I just don’t.”
The Texas Senator continued to portray his phrasing as negligent rather than intentional.
Hi, @tedcruz. Here are more of your “violent terrorists,” who have been treated like drug cartel members by the @FBI.
Innocent peoples’ lives are being destroyed, and you are cheering on the destruction. https://t.co/XaUtee4uQS
— Nick Searcy, INSURRECTIONAL FILM & TELEVISION STAR (@yesnicksearcy) January 5, 2022
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Cruz Says He Wasn’t Talking About Majority Of Trump Supporters
Senator Cruz went on to state that he is drawing a distinction between the majority of Trump supporters who protested the election results that he, himself, objected to, and the handful of people who fought with Capitol police officers.
“I wasn’t saying that the thousands of peaceful protesters supporting Donald Trump are somehow terrorists,” Cruz insisted. “I wasn’t saying the millions of patriots across the country supporting President Trump are terrorists, and that’s what a lot of people have misunderstood.”
On the anniversary of the January 6 riot, something I’m quite frankly surprised hasn’t been deemed a federal holiday by the President, Biden was equally as dramatic in his description of events.
“Police were assaulted. Lives at risk. The nation’s Capitol under siege,” Biden declared. “This wasn’t a group of tourists. This was an armed insurrection.”
Biden: “The former president and his supporters are trying to rewrite history. They want you to see Election Day as the day of insurrection…Can you think of a more twisted way to look at this country?” pic.twitter.com/xwqn0QdJRX
— Axios (@axios) January 6, 2022
Following yesterday’s festivities somber vigils, news has surfaced that at least a dozen Democrats are seeking legal advice on whether they can use the 14th Amendment to bar Donald Trump from ever holding office again.
The argument involves Section 3 of the 14th Amendment – a rarely cited Civil War-era provision that bars people from holding office if they “have engaged in insurrection or rebellion” or “given aid or comfort to the enemies thereof.”
Democrats and the media have consistently argued that the Capitol riot is an “insurrection,” a necessary description for Section 3 to apply.
Having Ted Cruz describe the day as a “terrorist attack” only feeds into the Democrat’s narrative. He should know better. These are the same Democrats who won’t hesitate to call Cruz a terrorist for supporting Trump.
“If somebody assaults a cop, he should be charged and go to jail. I couldn’t agree more,” Carlson added. “We’ve said that for years, but that person’s still not a terrorist.”
“You’re playing into the other side’s characterization that … allows them to define an entire population as foreign combatants,” he told Cruz. “And you know that.”
