Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, on the eve of the first anniversary of the deadly attack on the U.S. Capitol and during a Senate Rules Committee hearing with U.S. Capitol Police Chief Tom Manger, described the insurrection of Jan. 6, 2021, as a “terrorist attack” and “unacceptable.”
Following outcry among supporters of former President Donald Trump, Cruz is now walking back his statement.
“We are approaching a solemn anniversary this week, 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 to defend the men and women who serve in this Capitol,” Cruz said Wednesday.
The description drew backlash from some of Cruz’s fellow conservatives, none so loudly as Fox News commenter Tucker Carlson, who Wednesday accused Cruz and other Republicans of “repeating the talking points that [Attorney General] Merrick Garland has written for them.”
“He described January 6th as a violent terrorist attack. Of all the things that January 6th was, it was definitely not a violent terrorist attack,” Carlson said. “It wasn’t an insurrection. Was it a riot? Sure. It was not a violent terrorist attack. Sorry. So what are you telling us that it was, Ted Cruz? And why are none of your Republican friends who are supposed to be representing us and all of the people who have been arrested – during this purge – saying anything?”
Cruz, who is eying another run for president in 2024, appeared on “Tucker Carlson Tonight” Thursday and in a heated exchange with the host tried to minimize his earlier characterization.
“The way I phrased things yesterday, it was sloppy, and it was frankly dumb,” Cruz said.
“I don’t buy that,” Carlson replied.
“As a result of my sloppy phrasing it’s caused a lot of people to misunderstand what I meant,” Cruz continued. “Let me tell you what I meant to say. What I was referring to are the limited number of people who engaged in violent attacks against police officers. I think you and I both agree that if you assault a police officer, you should go to jail.”
“I wasn’t saying that thousands of peaceful protesters supporting Donald Trump are somehow terrorists. I wasn’t saying the millions of patriots across the country supporting President Trump are terrorists,” Cruz went on.
“Wait a second. What you just said doesn’t makes sense,” Carlson replied. “So if somebody assaults a cop he should be charged and go to jail. I couldn’t agree more. I’ve said that for years. But that person’s still not a terrorist. How many people have been charged with terrorism?”
Carlson was not the only conservative to criticize Cruz. Sebastian Gorka, former deputy assistant to Trump, tweeted, “I’m so done with Ted Cruz.”
Five people died during the event or after it, with related injuries, and hundreds of police officers were injured.
Cruz was among the GOP senators who voted against certifying election results despite there being no evidence of widespread voter fraud in the 2020 election.
Cruz said he had no second thoughts about his vote to block certification.
“I am proud of leading the effort to defend voter integrity,” Cruz said.
He also said the insistence by Democrats and the media of no mass voter fraud “only inflamed the divisions we have.”
The Associated Press contributed to this report.