Texas Republican Sen. Ted Cruz sounded off on a reporter on Friday who appeared to blame him and Republicans for the chaotic situation along the U.S.-Mexico border.
Cruz appeared to be conducting a field press conference just hours after the Biden administration allowed Title 42, a Trump-era border enforcement rule related to the pandemic, to expire, which Republicans have said will lead to even more record illegal immigration above levels already seen for two years.
In a video clip posted online, a clearly agitated Cruz is seen engaging a reporter: “Let me ask you something: What rate of illegal immigration did we have in 2020?”
As the reporter began to speak, Cruz cut him off: “Do you know anything? I asked you a question. Do you know anything?”
“How long have you been in office?” the reporter fired back.
“I’ve been in office eleven years,” the Texas Republican said in response, and as the reporter continued to speak over Cruz, he exclaimed: “You don’t get argue with me! You asked your question…you wanna hold a press conference, you can do it over there!”
As other reporters then began to chime in, Cruz silenced them: “Hold on! I’m gonna answer his question.”
“The talking point of the Democrats which this media reporter happily parrots, is, ‘Gosh, the problem can’t be fixed.’ There’s one little problem with that, it is an utter and complete lie.
“In 2020, the last year of the Trump presidency, we we had the lowest rate of illegal immigration in 45 years,” he said, before turning to the reporter and bellowing: “You asked what I’ve done? I’ve championed the men and women of Border Patrol.
“I’ve championed securing the border. I’ve championed [the Trump-era policy] Remain in Mexico. And we turned this problem around and solved it,” an exercised Cruz continued. “And we went from Joe Biden inherited the lowest rate of illegal immigration in 45 years…and the first day in office, he made political decisions to cause this problem.”
Cruz wasn’t done.
Looking directly at the reporter, he fired off this: “And you should be ashamed of yourself because you’re a reporter and you’re not reporting facts, you’re telling lies!”
WATCH the Ted Cruz Video: