The Texan senator admits his language was ‘sloppy’
On Thursday, Texas Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) was challenged by Fox News host Tucker Carlson over remarks in which he described the Capitol storming on January 6 as a “violent terrorist attack.”
Cruz, speaking on the senate floor, had condemned those who stormed the Capitol building and honored law enforcement officials’ “incredible courage” during a hearing with US Capitol Police Chief Tom Manger on Wednesday.
However, the prominent right-wing TV host didn’t appreciate Cruz’s characterization of the rioters who stormed the Capitol.
Interviewing the senator live, Carlson said: “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. You told that lie on purpose and I’m wondering why you did.”
Cruz came back groveling, admitting, “The way I phrased things yesterday, it was sloppy, and it was frankly dumb.”
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But before he could finish, Carlson interrupted, claiming he didn’t buy the senator’s explanation, noting that he’d known him for a long time, and suggesting he would not make such a careless remark unintentionally.