URGENT UPDATE: Texas Senator Ted Cruz has launched a fierce attack on former Fox News host Tucker Carlson, labeling his recent actions as “very dangerous” during an appearance on the “Straight Shooter with Stephen A. Smith” podcast. This statement comes just one day before Zohran Mamdani, the newly elected mayor of New York City, is set to meet with President Donald Trump in the White House.
In a heated discussion, Cruz expressed alarm about Carlson’s controversial interview with white supremacist Nick Fuentes, which has sparked significant backlash within conservative circles. Cruz claimed that antisemitism is “all but taken over” the Democratic Party before pivoting to Carlson, asserting that both he and Mamdani are advancing dangerous ideologies.
“One of the things when you go down the road of antisemitism, it very quickly leads you to anti-capitalism and anti-Americanism,” Cruz told Smith. “And Mamdani is a good example of that, where he’s an Islamist, but he’s also a socialist. And you look at Tucker…Tucker’s going down that road too.”
This confrontation underscores a deepening rift in the Republican Party, particularly as the 2024 election approaches. Cruz has positioned himself as a traditional, pro-interventionist Republican, using this controversy to differentiate himself from Carlson’s increasingly fringe views. “My colleagues, almost to a person, think what is happening is horrible, but a great many of them are frightened because he has one hell of a big megaphone,” Cruz stated at a recent event hosted by the Federalist Society.
The divide between Cruz and Carlson is not new; tensions have been escalating since Carlson’s interview with Fuentes. Cruz previously condemned the interview, criticizing Carlson for not challenging Fuentes’ extremist rhetoric. At the Republican Jewish Coalition’s annual summit, he again called out Carlson for spreading “a poison that is profoundly dangerous.”
Cruz’s comments have significant implications for the Republican Party as it navigates its identity in the wake of controversy surrounding right-wing figures. With Mamdani’s upcoming meeting with Trump, the eyes of the nation are on these intersecting narratives, raising questions about the future direction of the GOP and its stance on critical issues.
As this story develops, many are watching closely to see how Cruz’s statements will influence the party and its leaders. Expect further fallout from this podcast episode as both sides respond to the allegations and the implications for the broader political landscape.
Stay tuned for more updates on this breaking story, as the political ramifications unfold in real-time.
