During a speech at the Republican National Committee’s midterm convention in Dallas on Thursday, shouts of 'he should be shot' were heard as Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) criticized several Democratic politicians by name.
The outburst occurred while Cruz named New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, Michigan Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed, and Texas Senate candidate James Talarico, all of whom he accused of holding radical views. Cruz also referenced Twitch streamer Hasan Piker, stating, “When Hasan Piker says ‘America deserved 9/11,’ believe him.”
Key details of the incident:
- The shouts were audible on the broadcast of Cruz’s speech.
- It remains unclear whether Cruz heard the remarks.
- El-Sayed, one of the politicians targeted, responded on CNN, stating, “I'm a dad with two daughters and I hope those daughters get to grow up and live with their dad. This is what has become norm in our politics. I mean, literally calls to violence.”
- Democratic Rep. Debbie Dingell (MI) condemned the shouts on social media, calling them “chilling and disturbing.”
Cruz’s remarks and convention context:
Cruz used his speech to criticize what he described as a growing alliance between communists and Islamists within the Democratic Party. He stated, “We are witnessing a new and dangerous red-green alliance. Communists and Islamists coming together and sweeping over the Democratic Party.”
He also declared, “Sharia law has no place in America,” a common Republican attack line against Muslim political figures. Cruz’s speech drew cheers and applause from the convention audience, particularly when he framed the 2026 midterms as “a rendezvous with destiny.”
Reactions and responses:
- El-Sayed called on all who heard the shouts to condemn them, emphasizing the danger of normalizing political violence.
- Vice President JD Vance, who was a friend of Charlie Kirk (the conservative activist assassinated one year prior), reflected on Kirk’s death in a convention speech, though he did not directly address the incident.
- The Republican National Committee did not immediately respond to requests for comment regarding the shouts.
- Newsweek reported that a convention attendee was heard shouting the phrase, though it was not confirmed whether Cruz was aware of the interruption.
Background on the convention:
The RNC midterm convention in Dallas was organized by former President Donald Trump to bolster Republican support ahead of the 2026 elections. Speeches focused on attacking Democratic policies and framing the party as ideologically radical.
The incident occurred on the same day that many Republicans, including Vance, denounced political violence in remembrance of Kirk’s death. Kirk, co-founder of Turning Point USA, was shot and killed on a Utah college campus one year ago at age 31.