Texas GOP Senator Ted Cruz unraveled during a CNN interview when host Kaitlin Collins asked a fair and simple question about accepting the outcome of the 2024 election.
After confirming with Cruz that he was the first Senator to object to the 2020 election results, Collins asked:
"In 2024, will you certify the election results? Do you plan to object, or, will you accept the results regardless of who wins the election?"
Instead of responding to the "yes" or "no" question regarding the outcome of the likely head-to-head between Democratic President Joe Biden and former Republican President Donald Trump, Cruz deflected, insisting that Collins was asking a "ridiculous question."
He countered, "You asked a Democrat that?"
Collins acknowledged the Democrats' voicing opposition to Trump defeating Hillary Clinton in 2016 but stressed, "You cannot compare the two situations."
She asked, "Have you ever had a sitting President who refused to facilitate the peaceful transition of power, refuse to acknowledge that his successor won the presidency?"
The Senator replied, “We did have a peaceful transfer of power. I was there on Jan 20."
Collins countered, "Barely," referring to the January 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol incited by Trump after he repeatedly made false claims about a rigged election.
You can watch a video of the heated interview Collins posted on X (formerly Twitter) here.
My full exchange with Sen. Ted Cruz, who was the first senator to object in 2020, on whether he'll accept the election results in 2024: pic.twitter.com/nMuHv26Pzk
— Kaitlan Collins (@kaitlancollins) May 23, 2024
During the back and forth, Collins said the discussion on voter fraud wasn't a game.
Cruz disagreed and said "It is a game. You always ask Republicans that."
The CNN host reminded him that all the recent scrutiny towards Republicans was due to his party trying to block the transition of power.
"You have to acknowledge that," she said, adding:
"We've never seen it on a scale of what happened in 2020. We've never seen the President refuse. He wouldn't even let Biden get classified briefings at the beginning."
Collins tried again to get a concrete answer from Cruz if he would accept the results of a free and fair election regardless of who won.
"If the Democrats win I will accept," said Cruz but asserted that he wasn't going to "ignore fraud" which he maintained there was in 2020.
Collins fired back, "No there wasn't, and you still objected."
this is just brutal pic.twitter.com/FZbKjswWCy
— Adam Parkhomenko (@AdamParkhomenko) May 23, 2024
When Cruz challenged her to produce factual evidence about a lack of any swindling in the election, Collins mentioned the three-hand recounts in Georgia verifying the election results and the statement from the director of Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) verifying 2020 was the safest and most legitimate election in US history.
"There was no voter fraud that would have changed the outcome of the election and you know that, Senator," said Collins.
Cruz remained evasive and tried to derail from the topic by bringing up allegations of voter fraud in the 1876 presidential election between Rutherford B. Hayes and Samuel J. Tilden as an example of fraudulent precedence in the U.S.
The gaslighting by Cruz is infuriating. So sick of the false equivalencies that they think are gotchas. 🤬
— Honest & Unfiltered 💙💙💙 (@tlynn24292231) May 23, 2024
Trump has Cruz kissing the floor he walks on. Did he really try and establish precedent from 150 years ago?
He must have practiced that in the mirror a lot.
— AmericasBurner (@AmericasBurner) May 23, 2024
@HarrisPeskin/X
The GOP's resort to bullying tactics reflects their desperation in the face of dwindling support and failed policies. Unable to win on merit, they cling to intimidation and manipulation, revealing the true bankruptcy of their ideas. #GOPBullies
— My reflections and Introspections (@Nto79549105) May 23, 2024
I can’t listen to him, five seconds
— ChiefChris22 ⚓💙🌊🏳️🌈 (@ChiefChris22) May 23, 2024
I hope the dems win by that much that we never have to hear from people this ilk again - all of them
— Jas (@jas_jsingh) May 23, 2024
This prompted Collins to get the interview back on track and remarked:
“Republicans have twisted themselves in knots, it’s just a yes-or-no question."
Cruz said, “I’m not twisting myself,” adding:
“I’m answering your question. You just don’t like my answer.”
Collins, once again, asked:
“So what’s your answer, is it yes or is it no."
Cruz ignored the question he was never going to respond to.
He resumed his take on how Congress responded to the 1876 presidential election and other ramblings until Collins ended the interview.
When you have to go back to the 1800’s to try and make a point, you are losing the debate. But then that’s where republicans want to take us, back to the 1800’s.
— lilly (@linacantalupa) May 23, 2024
Social media users praised Collins' handling of the Senator throughout the segment.
You were 🔥.
Excellent.
Thank you for that.
— Rose Benson (@NotoriousRBF) May 23, 2024
Well I fully expected him to lie, but I'm glad you didn't let him talk over you and pushed back. This is what we need more of.
— 🌸 🐾 A to the Z 🐾🌸 (@A_tothe_Z_Amber) May 23, 2024
This is fire! Excellent work, Godess Kaitlyn.
— Michelle (@OfHomoSapiens) May 23, 2024
👏 bravo this is a master class for all other journalists and interviewers to follow. Thrilled to finally see this. This is what we need right now and more of it thank you!
— The SuzeMuze (@SDrennanGabriel) May 23, 2024
Ms. Collins is growing on me. Well done you.
— David Heric (@daveheric) May 23, 2024
YOU GO GIRL
— Candace (@B0rdertourista) May 23, 2024
Excellent job by Kaitlan Collins. Very fair and respectful, and on point. Ted Cruz is an Insurrectionist and Justice is late.
— 🌻Justice⚖Now 🌟🇺🇸 (@ChrisJustice01) May 23, 2024
I used to be on the fence with Kaitlin Collins, but she’s been bringing the heat lately and I love it 🔥
— Mike Pence's Other Mother 🟧🟦🟪 (@cooltxchick) May 23, 2024
She owned him! pic.twitter.com/Qh3tEfQ0pi
— Jimmy Murphy (@MurphysLaw74) May 23, 2024
Not always a Kaitlin Collins fan, but she tore him a few new ones in this interview, and it was marvelous.
— MzNicky in East Jesus, TN (@MzNickyEJesusTN) May 23, 2024
She really does an exceptional job preparing for her interviews and not allowing politicians like Cruz to gaslight. She does a far better job than most of her peers, some with decades more experience than her.
— Caligirl (@caligirlinsf) May 23, 2024
Seriously, this shouldn't be a difficult question to answer.