With harsh political divides continuing to develop across the nation, some Republican elected officials are promoting talk of a "national divorce" of red states from the Union.
Far-right Congresswoman and prominent conspiracy theorist Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia conducted a Twitter poll regarding the validity of the idea, and discussed it with white nationalist podcast host and former Trump official Steve Bannon.
And on Monday, right-wing Senator Ted Cruz of Texas commented on the idea that the Lone Star State should secede from the Union, preemptively endorsing a president of the state: podcast host Joe Rogan.
Watch below.
When asked this week what he thinks about the Texas secessionist / independence movement called \u201cTexit,\u201d Ted Cruz says it might be appropriate if certain things happen, and that Joe Rogan should be President of an independent Texas.pic.twitter.com/3crlZlh8VL— Ron Filipkowski (@Ron Filipkowski) 1636294982
Cruz emphasized that he didn't support Texas secession, though he understood the sentiment.
When asked if Texas would "take" Joe Rogan, Cruz responded:
"Joe Rogan? He might be president of Texas!"
With his immensely popular podcast, Joe Rogan has repeatedly platformed controversial individuals and has repeatedly spread disinformation regarding the COVID-19 pandemic that's killed over 750 thousand Americans. Most recently, Rogan made headlines after Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers revealed he'd consulted Rogan before deciding not to get vaccinated.
Rogan has said that young people could avoid vaccination, citing their lessened vulnerability to dying from the virus, but ignoring their likelihood of spreading it to more vulnerable Americans. He's also endorsed ivermectin as a treatment for COVID, despite no evidence that it's effective in treating the virus.
Given politicians like Ted Cruz's constant disinformation and dismissal of the pandemic, the party has embraced Rogan as a symbol of individuality and resistance.
People soon began roasting Cruz and his "stupid" comments.
Even in Ted Cruz's greatest dreams he's not the presidenthttps://twitter.com/RonFilipkowski/status/1457352899323965442\u00a0\u2026— advanced apathy (@advanced apathy) 1636387630
Texas: "President Rogan, the power is out again."\n\nPresident Rogan: "Has the power grid tried DMT?"https://twitter.com/RonFilipkowski/status/1457352899323965442\u00a0\u2026— PhDJ (@PhDJ) 1636310766
This is so stupid.https://twitter.com/RonFilipkowski/status/1457352899323965442\u00a0\u2026— Carrie (don\u2019t take me to prom) (@Carrie (don\u2019t take me to prom)) 1636299007
Joke or not, comments like this should disqualify Cruz from serving in the Senatehttps://twitter.com/RonFilipkowski/status/1457352899323965442\u00a0\u2026— David (@David) 1636301415
Portrait of a man who is very, very needy, intensely desirous of hearing applause. No matter what he has to say to get it. #PleaseClaphttps://twitter.com/ronfilipkowski/status/1457352899323965442\u00a0\u2026— Matthew Zimmerman (@Matthew Zimmerman) 1636386648
WTH? Is he serious?https://twitter.com/RonFilipkowski/status/1457352899323965442\u00a0\u2026— Mary MMM (@Mary MMM) 1636295112
Others noted how reliant Texas is on the federal government.
Texas receives $1.20 in federal payments for every $1 it contributes in federal taxes https://www.moneygeek.com/living/states-most-reliant-federal-government/\u00a0\u2026https://twitter.com/RonFilipkowski/status/1457352899323965442\u00a0\u2026— David Frum (@David Frum) 1636295977
As long as we pull out every single government agency including the military, deny them "foreign aid" and of course remove Texas representation from Congress I say go ahead! *Note* not really but I don't think they fully understand what they're asking for.https://twitter.com/RonFilipkowski/status/1457352899323965442\u00a0\u2026— reginald edwards (@reginald edwards) 1636377780
Texas gets too much federal government money for me to ever take this seriously. This secessionist talk is just that...talk. It's red meat for the base and nothing more.https://twitter.com/RonFilipkowski/status/1457352899323965442\u00a0\u2026— Sam from Delacroix, LA (@Sam from Delacroix, LA) 1636380921
It's unclear if Cruz realizes he wouldn't be a Senator if Texas seceded.
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