Senator Ted Cruz said during an interview on Tuesday that the United States is carrying out military strikes on Iran. His remarks directly contradict former President Donald Trump’s earlier claims that the U.S. was not involved in the recent attacks.
The exchange took place on The Tucker Carlson Show. During the conversation, Cruz said, “We’re carrying out military strikes today.” Carlson responded with surprise, saying, “You said Israel were—.” Cruz quickly followed up, “Right, right, with our help.”
This clip went viral on social media, racking up over 14 million views on X (formerly Twitter). Viewers and critics expressed alarm at what appeared to be a public admission of U.S. involvement in Israeli operations targeting Iran.
The interview became more intense when Carlson asked Cruz basic questions about Iran. “How many people live in Iran, by the way?” he asked. Cruz replied, “I don’t know the population at all.”
Carlson pressed further: “You don’t know the population you seek to topple?” He later added, “You don’t know anything about Iran.” The remarks fueled concerns about Cruz’s grasp of foreign policy, especially given his vocal stance on Middle East affairs.
Cruz Responds to Backlash
Following the backlash, Cruz attempted to downplay the moment. Posting on X, he wrote, “Did a long interview with Tucker. He released a snippet playing a ‘gotcha’ on the population of Iran. I declined to play that silly game.”
However, critics argued that a senior U.S. senator should be prepared for basic foreign policy questions, especially during a time of active conflict.
The timing of Cruz’s remarks adds to confusion surrounding U.S. actions in Iran. On Sunday, former President Trump said, “The U.S. had nothing to do with the attack on Iran, tonight.” But by Tuesday, he posted, “We now have complete and total control of the skies over Iran.”
Vice President JD Vance also chimed in. He suggested that Trump “may decide he needs to take further action to end Iranian enrichment,” but clarified that “the decision ultimately belongs to the president.”
Political analysts and commentators expressed alarm. Some believe Cruz accidentally revealed classified or sensitive information. Others criticized his lack of preparation and inconsistent messaging.
The exchange has reignited debates over U.S. foreign policy transparency and the role of elected officials in shaping and communicating military strategy abroad.