Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it’s investigating the financials of Elon Musk’s pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, ‘The A Word’, which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging. At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story. The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it. Your support makes all the difference. Read more Hecklers shouted “he should be shot” during Sen. Ted Cruz’s speech at Donald Trump’s midterm convention in Dallas when the Texas Republican mentioned a string of prominent Democrats. Cruz spoke at the convention, which President Donald Trump concocted to bolster Republican support ahead of the 2026 midterm elections. During his speech, Cruz specifically criticized Sharia law, a common attack point from Republicans that argues that Muslims will enforce their ideas on other Americans. “Hear me now: Sharia law has no place in America,” he said to rapturous applause and chants of “USA.” “It is fundamentally inconsistent with the Constitution of the United States, and we need to stand together to stop it now.” Cruz then proceeded to criticize Twitch streamer Hasan Piker as well as New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, Texas Democratic Senate nominee James Talarico and Michigan Democratic Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed. “When Hasan Piker says ‘America deserved 9/11,’ he means it,” Cruz said. “When Mamdani says he wants to ‘seize the means of production,’ he means it. When Abdul El Sayed says he has an ‘obligation’ to comply with Sharia law, he means it. And when James Talarico says he wants to ‘dismantle capitalism,’ he means it.” DALLAS, TEXAS – SEPTEMBER 10: U. S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) speaks on stage on the second day of the 2026 Republican National Convention at the American Airlines Center on September 10, 2026 in Dallas, Texas. U. S. President Donald Trump is headlining the Republican National Committee’s first-ever midterm convention as he aims to highlight his administration’s achievements and rally support for GOP candidates just two months before the upcoming elections being held on November 3. (Photo by Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images) (Getty) In between each of the call-outs of elected officials, a heckler could be heard saying “He should be shot.” Cruz, who ran against Trump and whose father Trump accused of being affiliated with the man who shot President John F. Kennedy in Dallas, did not call out the hecklers and likely did not hear them. “Now understand, not every Democrat in the House and Senate believes this,” he said. “But they are all afraid of these radicals because that’s where the money and energy and young people are in the Democrat Party.” Cruz pointed out how almost no Democrats disavowed Graham Platner, the embattled Democratic nominee for Senate who had to drop out amid a Politico report that he sexually assaulted an ex-partner, which Platner denied. “Why does El-Sayed refuse to disavow Hasan Piker?” he said. “Why does Chuck Schumer stand alongside El-Sayed? Their threats are not simply empty words.” Republicans have repeatedly slammed Piker throughout this midterm convention seeking to tie him into numerous Democrats particularly El-Sayed who is Muslim for his comments that suggested America deserved terrorist attacks in New York Pennsylvania and at Pentagon outside Washington D. C. Piker later apologized. Republican Senate nominees in Michigan and Texas former Rep Mike Rogers and Attorney General Ken Paxton respectively both attended this convention. Polling shows a dead heat race between them and their Democratic opponents. Because Paxton defeated incumbent Republican Sen John Cornyn Cruz will become senior senator from Texas He’s occasionally hinted that he’d want another run for president. He has also increasingly criticized isolationist anti-Israel wing within Republican Party led by personalities like Tucker Carlson Nick Fuentes. Talarico spent week while Republicans were convening in Dallas hosting a “Love Thy Neighbor” grocery drive along with survivors from Jeffrey Epstein case.Source link
