Ted Cruz used that same 'sloppy' phrasing to describe Jan. 6 at least 17 previous times
Ted Cruz's foot, meet Ted Cruz's mouth.
After a Thursday appearance on Fox's Tucker Carlson Tonight in which Cruz, a Republican senator from Texas, apologized for his "frankly dumb" mistake of calling the Jan. 6 riot a "violent terrorist attack," CNN's Daniel Dale is out with a fact check of that excuse.
Though Cruz said his "sloppy" Wednesday comments were meant only for the "limited number of people who committed violent assaults on police officers" on Jan. 6 (and not for the riot's "thousands of peaceful protesters"), he has actually "described the Capitol riot as a terrorist attack or broadly described rioters as terrorists over and over for months," Dale reports.
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 fact, the senator has used the phrase "terrorist attack" at least 17 previous times in official written statements, in tweets, during Senate hearings, and in interviews, Dale writes.
Good luck explaining this one on Fox News, Cruz.
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
Brigid Kennedy worked at The Week from 2021 to 2023 as a staff writer, junior editor and then story editor, with an interest in U.S. politics, the economy and the music industry.
-
Today's political cartoons - January 21, 2025
Cartoons Tuesday's cartoons - early days, exhaustive executive orders, and more
By The Week US Published
-
Zimbabwe's walk on the wild side with Yellow Zebra Safaris
The Week Recommends Take a tour of two magnificent national parks with an expert guide
By Nick Hendry Published
-
Thailand's makeover into White Lotus-inspired glamour
The Week Recommends The location for season three of the hit HBO series is spurring a luxury 'tourism frenzy'
By Irenie Forshaw, The Week UK Published
-
Gaza ceasefire, hostage deal on track to start by Monday
Speed Read A deal between Israel and Hamas to release hostages and begin a ceasefire was officially signed by representatives in Doha
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Ukraine captures first North Korean soldiers
Speed Read Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy posted videos of the men captured in Russia's Kursk region
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Lebanon selects president after 2-year impasse
Speed Read The country's parliament elected Gen. Joseph Aoun as its next leader
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
US accuses Sudan rebels of genocide, sanctions chief
Speed Read Sudan has been engaged in a bloody civil war that erupted in 2023
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Ukraine goes on offense in Russia's Kursk region
Speed Read A top adviser to President Zelenskyy said "the Russians are getting what they deserve"
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Ukraine cuts off Russian gas pipeline to Europe
Speed Read Ukraine has halted the transport of Russian gas to Europe after a key deal with Moscow expired
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Was Jimmy Carter America's best ex-president?
Today's Big Question Carter's presidency was marred by the Iran hostage crisis, but his work in the decades after leaving office won him global acclaim
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published
-
Top Russian general killed in Moscow blast
Speed Read A remote-triggered bomb killed Lt. Gen. Igor Kirillov, the head of Russia's Nuclear, Biological and Chemical Defense
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published