US Senator Ted Cruz (R-Texas) is facing intense backlash following a controversial appearance on Fox News, where he accused progressive Democrats of being “communists” and “Islamists” bent on canceling Thanksgiving and Christmas. The firebrand senator’s remarks, delivered during a segment with host Jesse Watters, have drawn sharp condemnation from political opponents and academic experts who warn that such rhetoric mirrors historical authoritarian tactics.
Accusations of a ‘Green-Red Convergence’
During the interview, Cruz painted a dark picture of the progressive wing of the Democratic Party, claiming that prominent candidates are actively seeking to dismantle traditional American holidays and institutions. “They’re crazy enough, yes, they want to cancel Thanksgiving, they want to cancel Christmas,” Cruz told Watters. “Look, these communists hate America. They hate capitalism.”
Cruz specifically targeted Abdul El-Sayed, a candidate for the U.S. Senate in Michigan, and Zohran Mamdani, the mayor of New York City, labeling them both as “Islamists” and “communists.” He went on to describe what he called a “green-red convergence,” alleging that “the communists and the Islamists, they want sharia law, they hate Jews, they hate Christians, they hate capitalism, they hate America.”
Despite the senator’s highly charged assertions, there is no evidence to support his claims. Both Mamdani and El-Sayed are progressive politicians who have never suggested canceling any federal or religious holidays, nor do they identify as communists. Critics have pointed out that Cruz’s rhetoric appears to conflate diverse progressive policy positions with extreme ideologies to alarm conservative voters.
The Origin of the Holiday Cancellation Claims
Political analysts suggest that Cruz’s remarks regarding the cancellation of Thanksgiving were likely a distorted reference to past comments made by Wisconsin gubernatorial candidate Francesca Hong. Hong had previously raised questions about the historical context of Thanksgiving, pointing to its painful associations with European colonialism and the genocide of Native Americans.
However, Hong has recently addressed and clarified her stance. Speaking to CNN’s Kaitlan Collins, Hong sought to dismiss the notion that she wanted to outlaw the holiday, explaining that her goal was to foster understanding of diverse historical perspectives. “Thanksgiving is also a time that’s incredibly painful for many people in our communities,” Hong said. “And so I think there, I wanted to make sure that people understood that there are multiple views, but views can evolve.”
Midterm Rhetoric and Authoritarian Playbooks
The escalation in aggressive rhetoric comes as Republicans, including President Donald Trump, ramp up attacks against left-leaning politicians ahead of the midterm elections, where conservative strategists are working to prevent a potential “blue wave.” Painting political opponents as existential threats to American culture has become a recurring strategy for the party.
Ruth Ben-Ghiat, an authoritarianism expert and professor of history at New York University, strongly criticized Cruz’s statements. In a series of social media posts, Ben-Ghiat explained that associating political rivals with communism to stoke fear is a well-documented tactic used by authoritarian movements throughout history.
“New party line is to associate Communists with every crime, every offense,” Ben-Ghiat wrote. “Create a sense of Communist threat to justify a rightwing crackdown. Old playbook used with coups and Fascist takeovers.” Opponents of the senator argue that such rhetoric polarizes the electorate and distracts from substantive policy debates on the economy, healthcare, and governance.