Senator Ted Cruz Texas He sparked a backlash on social media when he claimed in an interview that some people saying “Christ is King” were anti-Semitic and a “code word” for “I hate Jews.” Cruz made the remarks during an interview with Christian television channel CBN News.
Cruz said the phrase “Christ is King” has been spread on social media, especially among far-right groups like Nick Salter’s harassers, as a way to assert Christian dominance over Jews. Cruz said that while he agrees with the phrase itself, he finds himself divided over the way it is used on social media to attack Jews.
“I agree with Christ as King,” Cruz said. “Even though the way it’s used online is to say, ‘Fuck you, Jews.’ They’re attacking Jews and ending with ‘Christ is King’ makes it seem like there’s a biblical basis for attacking Jews.”
However, the comments sparked a backlash against Cruz, a Southern Baptist Christianity himself. Many on social media slammed his comments, accusing Cruz of being anti-Christian.
Remarks spark backlash
“Ted Cruz, who calls himself a Christian even though he doesn’t act like one, now wants to classify the overtly Christian statement ‘Christ is King’ as ‘anti-Semitism’ and an ‘attack on the Jews,'” one wrote. “I really hope now you can all see where this is going.”
“Ted Cruz is concerned that you saying the phrase ‘Christ is King’ will offend people because it is clearly being used in an anti-Semitic way,” one user wrote. “Cruz claims the phrase is being used as ‘anti-Semitic code’ against Jews. What’s wrong with Ted Cruz?”
“OMG…Ted Cruz is so stupid for now saying ‘Christ is King’ is Groiper’s rallying cry, which evokes images of pitchfork-wielding crusades,” one person wrote.
“Ted Cruz is a liar. We’re going to get a megaphone and go on the Christ the King First Amendment Tour,” one wrote.
“This is a sitting U.S. Senator who views genuine expressions of Christian faith as an act of hate. Taking advantage of the actions or words of a small group of people with whom he disagrees, he lumps all who claim Christ as King into a hate group,” another said.
Also read: Did Trump ignore Ted Cruz in his speech? President whispers to Rubio at White House event
Details of Ted Cruz’s Christian Background
Ted Cruz was raised Southern Baptist after his Cuban immigrant father, Rafael, converted from Catholicism to evangelical Christianity in 1975. Houstonhe attended evangelical private schools including Second Baptist School.
Cruz launched his 2016 presidential campaign at Liberty University and worshiped at Houston’s First Baptist Church. His missionary father, now a pastor in Dallas, influenced his conservative Christian stance on issues such as religious freedom.
