Rep. Dan Crenshaw apologizes for calling anti-McCarthy GOP colleagues 'terrorists': 'Things get heated and things get said'

Last week, Rep. Dan Crenshaw blasted several of his GOP colleagues as "terrorists" after they refused to support Kevin McCarthy's bid for speaker.

During an interview on CNN's "State of the Union," the Texas Republican explained to host Jake Tapper that the party's infighting had been "heated" last week, and that he did not intend to describe McCarthy objectors as actual terrorists.

Things get said and heated. It's clear to the people who took offense that it's a turn of phrase. It's in the middle of negotiations.

I have a lot of thick skin." He said that he was taken aback by the sensitivity of the calls he received from the same wing of the party that he was fighting. I apologize to my coworkers if they were offended by it. I don't want them to think I'm a terrorist. It's clearly a turn of phrase that you use in negotiations.

Last week, he told Fox News Radio that the party couldn't allow the terrorists to win.

Ted Cruz criticized the use of the word "terrorists" during a Friday episode of his show.

I have a view that's settle down. The senator said that the leadership battle would work out. "Calling people terrorists is not compatible with anything resembling Republican unity." Strong leadership for the next two years in the House is not a good thing.

After 15 rounds of balloting, where McCarthy was opposed by an array of conservative lawmakers, the Californian broke through and won the speakership vote.