Carlson wondered why you lied, and you told that lie on purpose.
Cruz, who finished second to Donald Trump in the Republican presidential primary in 2016 and is considering running for president again in 2020, tried to defend himself.
There are a limited number of people who engage in violent attacks against police officers. Cruz said that he and he both agree that if you assault a police officer, you should go to jail. I was not saying the protesters supporting Donald Trump are terrorists. I was not saying the millions of people supporting Trump are terrorists.
Carlson accused the senator of playing into Democrats' narratives. The show's chyron read, "TUCKER takes on Senator Ted Cruz." Carlson might run in 2024.
The senator has used the word before, and Carlson has highlighted it twice this week. The senator from Texas called the day a despicable act of terrorism after Congress certified the election.
Domestic terrorism is defined by the FBI as acts of criminal activity committed by individuals and groups to further ideological goals stemming from domestic influences.
Cruz reminded Carlson that he was one of the Republican senators who objected to the election results.
It would be ridiculous for me to say that the people who are standing up and protesting are terrorists. Cruz said that he used the word to describe people who attack police officers for decades.
I agree with Tucker. It was a mistake to say that yesterday, and the reason is that we have had a year of Democrats and the media twisting words and trying to say that all of us are terrorists. I am trying to say that you are a terrorist.
The back and forth continued for a while. Carlson cut Cruz off at one point.
Carlson said he didn't believe you. I mean that with respect.
