In March 2026, a video resurfaced online apparently showing Republican U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas walking off a stage after a crowd booed him for his pro-Israel comments and saying, "If you will not stand with Israel and the Jews, then I will not stand with you."
Posts sharing the video received millions of views, including one from a popular X account that describes itself as satirical (archived):
The video is authentic. However, most posts did not specify that the incident took place in 2014, not 2026. The incident — at a gala held by the organization In Defense of Christians (IDC) — was filmed from multiple angles, and both the organizer and Cruz's office released statements regarding the events of the evening shortly after.
However, the most prominently circulated clips were heavily edited and lacked important context. It's important to note that in the following transcript of the complete clip, significant audience dissent alongside clapping interrupted Cruz's comments at several points, enough to cause a moderator to step in. The incident was as follows [beginning at minute 2:57]:
Cruz: In 1948, Jews throughout the Middle East faced murder and extermination and fled to the nation of Israel. And today, Christians have no greater ally than the Jewish state. Let me say this, those who hate Israel hate America. And those who hate Jews hate Christians. And if this room will not recognize that, then my heart weeps that the men and women here will not stand in solidarity with Jews and Christians alike who are persecuted by radicals who seek to murder them. If you hate the Jewish people, you are not reflecting the teachings of Christ. And the very same people who persecute and murder Christians right now, who crucify Christians, who behead children, are the very same people who target and murder Jews for their faith for the same reason. I will say this, I am saddened.
Moderator: Please, respect for dialogue. Respect please, we are in America.
Cruz: I will say this, I am saddened. To say that some here, not everyone, but some here —
Audience member: Most of us.
Cruz: Are so consumed with hate, that you cannot address your brother. I will say this: If you will not stand with Israel and the Jews, then I will not stand with you. Thank you, and God bless you.
The next day, In Defense of Christians released a statement (archived) in which the organization claimed, "Sadly, there was a small but vocal anti-Israel element in the room. Those individuals do not represent the views of IDC. In fact, there were many more people shouting down the hecklers than there were hecklers. The hecklers who did not remove themselves were removed by security."
We reached out to In Defense of Christians seeking comment regarding whether it maintained those individuals do not represent the views of the organization, and Executive Director Richard Ghazal responded, saying:.
The 2014 gala event brought together a diverse group of attendees unified by a shared concern for persecuted Christians. The regrettable incident involving Senator Cruz and a few audience members does not reflect the mission or values of In Defense of Christians (IDC). IDC is a nonpartisan organization committed to advocating for religious freedom and human dignity, and we remain committed to fostering respectful dialogue across political and theological lines. While individual remarks—whether from the stage or the audience—may have expressed personal views, they should not be construed as representing the organization.
Cruz's office released its own response (archived) following the incident on Sept. 10, 2014, which read (in part):
I told the attendees that those who hate Israel also hate America, that those who hate Jews also hate Christians, and that anyone who hates Israel and the Jewish people is not following the teachings of Christ.These statements were met with angry boos. I went on to tell the crowd that Christians in the Middle East have no better friend than Israel. That Christians can practice their faith free of persecution in Israel. And that ISIS, al Qaeda, Hamas, and Hezbollah, along with their state sponsors in Syria and Iran, are all part of the same cancer, murdering Christians and Jews alike. Hate is hate, and murder is murder.