Senator Ted Cruz of Texas has sparked a backlash on social media after he claimed in an interview that the way some people say “Christ is King” is antisemitic and a “code word” for “I hate the Jews.” Cruz made the remarks at an interview with CBN News, a Christian TV channel.
Cruz said that the phrase “Christ is King” has spread on social media, especially among far-right groups like Nick Sortor’s groypers, as a way to assert Christian dominance over the Jews. Cruz said that though he agrees with the phrase itself, he finds himself at odds with how the phrase is used on social media to attack Jews.
“I agree with the statement Christ is King,” Cruz said. “Although it is being used online in a way that is meant to say, ‘screw you, Jew.’ They’re attacking Jews and they end with “Christ is King” to make it sound like somehow there’s a biblical basis for attacking Jews.”
The comments, however, sparked backlash against Cruz, who is a southern Baptist Christian himself. Many on social media hit out at him for the remark, accusing Cruz of being anti-Christian.
“Ted Cruz is worried about you saying the phrase ‘Christ is King’ and offending people because it’s apparently being used in an antisemitic way,” one user wrote. “Cruz claims the phrase is being used as an ‘anti-Jewish code’ to target Jews. What happened to Ted Cruz?”
“My God.. he is so stupid Ted Cruz now says the phrase ‘Christ Is King’ is a Groyper Rallying Cry, which sparks images of the Crusade with pitchforks in hand,” wrote one.
“Ted Cruz is a liar. We’re about to go get a bullhorn and go on a Christ is King First Amendment tour,” wrote one.
“This is a sitting US Senator judging the intent of a genuine expression of Christian faith as an act of hatred. Using the actions or words of a small group he disagrees with, he lumps everyone who declares Christ is King into a hate group,’” said another.
This story is being updated.