Texas Senator Ted Cruz (R) faced a storm of criticism after a bizarre appearance on Fox News where he unleashed a tirade against New York City’s next mayor, Zohran Mamdani, calling him “an actual communist jihadist.”
Cruz made the explosive claims following Mamdani’s victory over former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo and Republican Curtis Sliwa. The incoming mayor, a self-described Democratic socialist, has focused his campaign on affordability and policies aimed at helping the middle class.
During the interview on Wednesday, Nov. 5, Cruz went full-throttle: “We have an actual communist jihadist, and it’s important to note Mamdani is not a socialist. He is a full-on communist.”
He continued with alarming rhetoric, warning, “He has called for seizing the means of production in our economy. He is a Marxist. That is profoundly dangerous. And look, I know there’s some Republicans that were saying ‘Well gosh this will be good politically because it’ll be the face of Democratic party’ – I think it’s terrible for America.”
Cruz didn’t stop there, ending his fiery rant with a line that has since gone viral: “I think New York is the largest city in America, it is the financial capital of the world, it is the media capital of the world, and New York we are going to see New Yorkers die.”
The clip of Cruz’s meltdown quickly circulated on X, formerly Twitter, drawing widespread ridicule. Critics slammed the Texas senator for fearmongering. One user wrote, “‘communist jihadist’??…they’re just throwing out trigger words to fearmonger their base.”
Others highlighted Cruz’s focus on New York instead of his own state. “Has anyone asked why @tedcruz is not focused on Texas but is instead melting down about NYC?” one user asked. Another pointed out the irony, saying, “Cruz, the immigrant dumps on another immigrant in a country that’s only great because of immigrants. You can’t make this s–t up.”
Even his education became a target. “Amazing, Ted Cruz has had a top tier education, & now is just a rank crackpot,” one commentator noted.
Despite Cruz’s alarmist claims, Mamdani has repeatedly confirmed he identifies as a Democratic socialist, drawing inspiration from figures like Martin Luther King Jr. His policies center on affordability and support for middle-class Americans—not the extreme communism Cruz painted.
As the clip continues to circulate online, Cruz’s fiery comments are being remembered less for their warnings and more for their absurdity, cementing yet another viral political meltdown in his long career.
Watch the clip below:
Cruz: We have an actual communist jihadist. It is terrible for America. pic.twitter.com/BuGTD0QNla
— Acyn (@Acyn) November 6, 2025
