Ted Cruz tells Tucker Carlson it was 'sloppy' for him to call Jan. 6 riot 'a terrorist attack'

Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) is probably wishing he booked a trip to Cancun Thursday night instead of a Fox News appearance.
On Wednesday, Cruz described the Jan. 6 riot as "a violent terrorist attack on the Capitol." He also praised the "men and women of law enforcement" who demonstrated "incredible courage" while risking their lives "to defend the men and women who serve in this Capitol."
Cruz's remarks didn't sit well with Fox News host Tucker Carlson, who said during his Wednesday night show that "every word Ted Cruz uses is used intentionally. He described Jan. 6 as a violent terrorist attack. Of all the things Jan. 6 was, it was definitely not a violent terrorist attack."
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
In an apparent attempt to get back into the good graces of Fox News viewers, Cruz appeared on Carlson's Thursday night show, telling him "the way I phrased things yesterday was sloppy and it was frankly dumb." "I don't buy it," Carlson shot back, adding, "you take words as seriously as any man who served in the Senate."
Cruz responded that he was referring to "the limited number of people who engaged in violent attacks against police officers," not the "thousands of peaceful protesters supporting Donald Trump. ... I wasn't saying the millions of patriots across the country supporting President Trump are terrorists."
Carlson remained unmoved, telling Cruz, "What you just said doesn't make sense." Someone who assaults a police officer should go to jail, Carlson said, "but the person's still not a terrorist." Cruz told Carlson that he's called people who attack cops "terrorists" for years, but it was "a mistake to say that yesterday."
Thursday marked the one-year anniversary of the Jan. 6 Capitol riot, when supporters of Trump, fueled by his false claims of widespread election fraud, stormed the Capitol as lawmakers were certifying the election. Cruz was one of the Republican senators who played along and rejected electors from certain states won by President Biden, which he touted during the interview with Carlson. In the year since the Capitol attack, Cruz has referred to the Capitol assault as a "terrorist attack" and the rioters as "terrorists" on multiple occasions.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Catherine Garcia has worked as a senior writer at The Week since 2014. Her writing and reporting have appeared in Entertainment Weekly, The New York Times, Wirecutter, NBC News and "The Book of Jezebel," among others. She's a graduate of the University of Redlands and the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism.
-
5 tactically sound cartoons about the leaked Signal chat
Cartoons Artists take on the clown signal, baby steps, and more
By The Week US Published
-
Roast lamb shoulder with ginger and fresh turmeric recipe
The Week Recommends Succulent and tender and falls off the bone with ease
By The Week UK Published
-
Adolescence and the toxic online world: what's the solution?
Talking Point The hit Netflix show is a window into the manosphere, red pills and incels
By The Week Staff Published
-
The JFK files: the truth at last?
In The Spotlight More than 64,000 previously classified documents relating the 1963 assassination of John F. Kennedy have been released by the Trump administration
By The Week Staff Published
-
Supreme Court upholds 'ghost gun' restrictions
Speed Read Ghost guns can be regulated like other firearms
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Trump sets 25% tariffs on auto imports
Speed Read The White House says the move will increase domestic manufacturing. But the steep import taxes could also harm the US auto industry.
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Trump allies urge White House to admit chat blunder
Speed Read Even pro-Trump figures are criticizing The White House's handling of the Signal scandal
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Waltz takes blame for texts amid calls for Hegseth ouster
Speed Read Democrats are calling for Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and national security adviser Michael Waltz to step down
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Judge: Nazis treated better than Trump deportees
speed read U.S. District Judge James Boasberg reaffirmed his order barring President Donald Trump from deporting alleged Venezuelan gang members
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
US officials share war plans with journalist in group chat
Speed Read Atlantic editor Jeffrey Goldberg was accidentally added to a Signal conversation about striking Yemen
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Canada's Mark Carney calls snap election
speed read Voters will go to the polls on April 28 to pick a new government
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published