During a notably humorous moment captured in a Senate hearing, Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) delivered a scathing critique of Senator Mazie Hirono (D-HI), leading her to exit the room rather than address his remarks regarding her perceived reluctance to condemn violent leftist organizations such as Antifa and Black Lives Matter (BLM). Although the footage dates back to 2020 amidst the riots of that period, it remains significant as it reveals the character of Senator Hirono, particularly in light of her reactions during the confirmation hearings for nominees put forth by President Trump.
The exchange unfolded when Hirono, responding to Cruz’s inquiries, exclaimed, “How many times must I reiterate that we should denounce violent extremists of all kinds? By the way, I have the time. The Republicans frequently invoke the tragic deaths of black police officers, such as Patrick Underwood and David Dorn, to score political points, while conveniently overlooking that it was right-wing extremists who were responsible for Officer Underwood’s death.”
She further declined to denounce BLM, stating, “There are numerous criticisms directed at Black Lives Matter and their messages. How many of us genuinely believe that calls to defund police departments should be taken literally? I certainly do not. We must remember that we have a fundamental right to freedom of speech. Supporting Black Lives Matter and advocating for various boycotts falls under that right, which is the essence of this hearing—protecting speech.”
As the hearing drew to a close, she stood up to leave, expressing her desire to no longer endure Cruz’s remarks. She declared, “I hope this marks the conclusion of this hearing, Mr. Chairman, and that we need not listen to any further rhetorical speeches. Thank you very much. I am departing.”
As she rose to depart, Senator Cruz directed some sharp remarks towards her. He began by acknowledging her characteristic remarks, stating, “I appreciate the ever-kind and uplifting words from Senator Hirono.” He then pointed out, “Throughout her statements, she has yet to utter a single negative word regarding Antifa, nor have any Democrats present.”
He elaborated on the implications of their silence on Antifa, saying, “They engage in a political strategy that relies on this silence. You are welcome to express a negative opinion about Antifa at this moment; I believe I have addressed the matter sufficiently. However, she chose not to respond. This reflects the stance of the Democratic Party.”
He further remarked, “It is also worth noting that among the seven Democratic senators who spoke, none offered an apology or condemned the multiple instances of Democrats labeling law enforcement officers as Nazis, Storm Troopers, and Gestapo. To be fair, I have not heard the term Nazi, but the term Storm Trooper was used by Nancy Pelosi, and Gestapo was referenced by another Democratic leader.”
As he directed his comments towards Hirono, he reiterated, “You are welcome to say something negative about Antifa right now,” but she declined to respond. Upon exiting the room, Hirono again refrained from commenting on Antifa, stating, “I believe I have addressed the matter adequately.”
