Sen. Ted Cruz walks back calling Jan. 6 'violent terrorist attack,' calls it 'sloppy mistake'

Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) said it was a mistake to cast the Jan. 6, 2021, riot at the U.S. Capitol as a “violent terrorist attack” on Tucker Carlson’s Fox News show on Thursday, saying it was “sloppy, and it was frankly dumb.”

Carlson had his doubts, pointing out the Texas senator does not have a history of using words carelessly.

“I don’t believe you used that accidentally,” Carlson said.

Cruz defended himself saying he has always referred to those who attack police as “terrorists.”

"For a decade, I’ve referred to people who violently assault police officers as terrorists. I’ve done so over and over and over again," Cruz said. "That being said, Tucker, I agree with you. It was a mistake to say that yesterday, and the reason is what you just said, which is we have now had a year of Democrats and the media twisting words and trying to say that all of us are terrorists."

Carlson did not accept Cruz’s explanation. “If someone assaults a cop, he should go to jail. I couldn’t agree more,” Carlson said. “But the person is still not a terrorist. How many people have been charged with terrorism on Jan. 6?”

The Texas senator was attempting to dispel criticism from his usual allies, including Carlson, after using the phrase during a Senate Rules Committee oversight hearing on Wednesday, where Capitol Police discussed security failures on Jan. 6.

"We are approaching a solemn anniversary this week. And it is an anniversary of a violent terrorist attack on the Capitol, where we saw the men and women of law enforcement demonstrate incredible courage, incredible bravery, risk their lives for the Capitol,” Cruz said to Capitol Police Chief Tom Manger.

The statement prompted outrage from other conservatives, who said there was no evidence of terrorism. Carlson showed the clip of the hearing on his show Wednesday night.

“Of all the things Jan. 6 was, it was definitely not a 'violent terrorist attack.' It wasn’t an insurrection. Was it a riot? Sure. It was not a violent terrorist attack. Sorry,” Carlson said. “You’re making us think maybe the Republican Party is as worthless as we suspected it was.”

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) joined in Thursday morning, saying it “was very irresponsible to call them terrorists.”