Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, has drawn the ire of some veterans for a tweet that criticizes a U.S. Army commercial and compares it unfavorably to a military recruitment video produced by Russia.


What You Need To Know

  • Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, shares video unfavorably comparing U.S. Army recruitment video to one produced in Russia

  • Cruz wrote, "Perhaps a woke, emasculated army is not the best idea"

  • Tweet drew backlash from veterans, including Sen. Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill, and former Kentucky U.S. Senate candidate Amy McGrath

  • Cruz defended tweet as a criticism of Democrats rather than the military 

Cruz on Twitter shared a TikTok video that compares the advertisements.

The U.S. ad uses animation to tell the story of U.S. Army Cpl. Emma Malonelord, which in addition to her military service details her mothers’ wedding and her participation in marches for LGBTQ rights.

The Russian ad, conversely, depicts male soldiers training in harsh conditions.

“Holy crap. Perhaps a woke, emasculated army is not the best idea…” Cruz wrote.

Cruz's tweet drew significant backlash from veterans

Among the more notable critics was Sen. Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill, a retired Army National Guard lieutenant colonel who served in the Iraq War. Duckworth lost her legs and partial use of her right arm in 2004 when a helicopter she was co-piloting was hit by an RPG fired by Iraqi insurgents.

“Holy crap. Perhaps a U.S. Senator shouldn’t suggest that the *Russian* military is better than the American military that protected him from an insurrection he helped foment,” Duckworth tweeted.

Former U.S. Senate candidate and retired Marine fighter pilot Amy McGrath also took aim at Cruz.

“Dear @tedcruz – you have no idea what being a warrior is all about. Signed, all women who have worn the uniform to protect your right to be an ass,” McGrath wrote.

“Ted Cruz attacks a US Army soldier for telling her story, says he prefers Russians,” VoteVets, a left-leaning group which helps elect veteran candidates, wrote in a tweet, bashing the Senator as "a sedition-loving traitor.”

Cruz later addressed his critics on Twitter, writing, “I’m enjoying lefty blue checkmarks losing their minds over this tweet, dishonestly claiming that I’m ‘attacking the military.’ Uh, no. We have the greatest military on earth, but Dem politicians & woke media are trying to turn them into pansies. The new Dem videos are terrible.”