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Ted Cruz Awkwardly Storms Off After British Journalist Asks Why School Shootings Only Happen In America
In Uvalde, Texas, hundreds of community members assembled at the local showground to show support for the loved ones of the children and teachers killed in the shooting at Robb Elementary School earlier this week. Joining the grieving bunch were Texas Governor Greg Abbott and Republican Senator Ted Cruz, both historically staunch supporters of gun rights and two pivotal roadblocks to Democratic gun reform attempts.
Journalist Mark Stone, a reporter for British outlet Sky News, approached Senator Cruz for an interview about the issue of gun protections in the United States.
You can watch the interview below:
Journalist: “Why [are mass shooting] just an American problem?”
A visibly upset Ted Cruz: “Stop being a propagandist.”
pic.twitter.com/5bjPn6gbf6
— philip lewis (@Phil_Lewis_) May 26, 2022
Stone asked whether it was finally time for gun reform. Cruz's reaction was troubling.
Cruz answered:
"You know it's easy to go to politics."
Stone pleaded with him, saying it's the heart of the issue.
Cruz said:
"I get that that's where the media likes to go."
Stone said:
"It's not. It's where many of the people that we've talked to here like to go."
Stone pressed on, wondering how an 18-year-old was able to get his hands on two AR-15s.
Cruz said:
"If you want to stop violent crime, the proposals the Democrats have, none of them would have stopped this."
Stone then asked:
"Then why does this only happen in your country?"
"I really think that's what many people around the world just cannot fathom."
"Why only in America? Why is this American exceptionalism so awful?"
Cruz said:
"I'm sorry you think American exceptionalism is awful ... "
"You know what, you've got your political agenda."
"God love you."
Stone said:
"Senator ... I just want to understand why you do not think that guns are the problem ... It is just an American problem, sir."
"You can't answer that, can you?"
Cruz snapped back:
"Why is it that people come from all over the world to America?"
"Because it's the freest, most prosperous, safest country on Earth."
"And stop being a propagandist."
Then, as Republicans often do when asked tough questions, Cruz fled.
Many were appalled by his response, although at least one Twitter user was not surprised.
"Cruz couldn’t answer because he is 'DEEP IN THE POCKETS' of gun manufacturers."
GOP Sen. Ted Cruz angrily ends interview, and rushes away, like the coward that he is, after questions about an 18 year-old buying assault weapons.
Cruz couldn’t answer because he is “DEEP IN THE POCKETS” of gun manufacturers. #GunReform
👇🏼 https://t.co/Hsv96II4lp
— Samia Ali Salama ✍️ (@SamiaAliSalama) May 26, 2022
Someone else said:
"Calling America the 'safest place on earth' during an interview about a mass shooting in a school @tedcruz how stupid are you truly?"
calling America the “safest place on earth” during an interview about a mass shooting in a school @tedcruz how stupid are you truly? https://t.co/SsaRBVrs79
— juno (@junosunshine) May 26, 2022
Another person said:
"Calls him a propagandist, but goes on to say America is the most free and safest country in the world."
Calls him a propagandist, but goes on to say America is the most free and safest country in the world 🫠
— Taran Dobbins (@TaranDobbins) May 26, 2022
And yet another:
"He’s absolutely a sociopath."
"He doesn’t care about those kids."
"He cares about his political career."
"No one asks him what he thinks if he’s not Senator."
He’s absolutely a sociopath. He doesn’t care about those kids. He cares about his political career. No one asks him what he thinks if he’s not Senator.
— Tim Hannan 🇺🇸🇺🇦 (@TimHannan) May 26, 2022
I’m sorry the truth is upsetting to you @tedcruz. Maybe find a new line of business.
— Lindsey Boylan (@LindseyBoylan) May 26, 2022
Others, commended the interviewer, happy he pressed the question.
This person tweeted:
"Ted Cruz, walks out of the interview when the SkyNews starts asking the real questions."
"Thankfully these reporters still exist!"
Ted Cruz, walks out of the interview when the SkyNews starts asking the real questions. Thankfully these reporters still exist! #GunControlNow #skynews https://t.co/BQsq0P1fYx
— wilfried bergs (@wwchbergs) May 26, 2022
This person shared:
"More journalists need to be like this."
More journalists need to be like this.
— Beth (@monkeytweeets) May 26, 2022
@Stone_SkyNews
Great pressing interview, didn't back down when Cruz tried to turn it around. @tedcruz this is what a 🐀 looks like fleeing a sinking ship!
'Why only in America?' Sky New questions Ted Cruz https://t.co/HArSULbaOz
— Daragh Kelly (@kudos78) May 26, 2022
Many are calling on Cruz and other GOP lawmakers to change their position on gun regulations. People have little hope of anything changing, however, considering their intransigent responses to the Uvalde shooting. Although it was reported Thursday afternoon that Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell has instructed his caucus to begin negotiating with Democrats to get to a "bipartisan solution" on the issue.