Texas Senator Ted Cruz (R) has backtracked on his choice of words in a recent interview on Fox News after he came under heavy scrutiny for labeling those involved in last year's January 6th Capitol riots as 'terrorists.'
Speaking at a Senate hearing on Wednesday, per RollingStone Cruz said: "It is an anniversary of a violent terrorist attack on the Capitol where we saw the men and women of law enforcement demonstrate incredible courage, incredible bravery, risk their lives to defend the men and women who serve in this Capitol."
His comments have since drawn heavy criticism, prompting Cruz to speak to Tucker Carlson on Thursday in an attempt to backtrack on his comments.
"The way I phrased things (Wednesday), it was sloppy, and frankly it was dumb," Cruz said per KXAN.
He has also taken to social media in an attempt to save face, stating: "I was NOT calling the thousands of peaceful protestors on Jan 6 terrorists. I would never do so; I have repeatedly, explicitly said the OPPOSITE—denouncing the Democrats’ shameful efforts to do so & to try to paint every Trump voter in America as “terrorists” & “insurrectionists"
Cruz went on to say that his comments were solely directed at those who assaulted law enforcement officers.
"The snippet from yesterday didn’t include my passionate & repeated defense of the patriots and peaceful protestors supporting President Trump," Cruz said. "I’m sorry that that 20-second clip led so many to misunderstand what I was saying."
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