Sen. Ted Cruz warned on Fox News about the dangers of "billionaire" or self-enriching political leaders and labeled several Democratic Socialists "full-on communists." He invoked his family history with Fidel Castro to argue that violence can be a deliberate political tactic, then claimed authoritarian leaders often become wealthy by exploiting the public. Clips of his remarks prompted critics on social media to suggest the comments could equally describe Donald Trump, and commentators framed the exchange as part of Republican unease ahead of the midterms.
Ted Cruz Warns About 'Billionaire' Leaders — Critics Say His Remarks Could Apply To Trump
Ted Cruz warns against billionaire presidents: ‘They steal and rob from those they govern’
Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) drew online ridicule after warning on Fox News about the dangers of political leaders who enrich themselves while in office — comments critics said could just as easily describe former President Donald Trump.
Appearing on Sean Hannity's program, Cruz argued that recent gains by Democratic Socialists in state and local races underscore a broader threat from what he called the "radical left." He singled out New York progressive Zohran Mamdani as an example of candidates he sees as extreme.
Texas Republican Sen. Ted Cruz has warned voters against the dangers of robber baron presidents (Hannity/Fox News)
"Mamdani is not a socialist, he is a Marxist, he is a full-on communist," Cruz told Hannity. "The [Democratic Socialists of America] candidates that he supported, that won in New York, are full-on communists. The DSA candidates who won in Colorado are full-on communists."
Cruz, who has Cuban family roots, said his father Rafael Cruz had been imprisoned and tortured under Fidel Castro's regime and used that history to warn that political violence can be intentional.
"Violence is part of the plan. That's not a bug — it is a feature. It is the objective," he said. "This is who the communists are. The radical left is perfectly fine with using violence to attack its enemies."
He went on to criticize leaders who grow wealthy in office, saying authoritarian regimes often produce wealthy rulers who "steal and rob from those they govern," and cited historical figures including Castro and Vladimir Putin.
Cruz was attempting to attack left-leaning New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani in his warning against political leaders seeking to enrich themselves (Getty)
Clips of Cruz's remarks circulated on X (formerly Twitter), prompting quick pushback from critics who noted the remarks might be applied to President Trump. Brandon Richards, a staffer for California Gov. Gavin Newsom, mocked Cruz's apparent lack of self-awareness, while others pointed to recent reports of Trump's personal finances to suggest the senator's critique could cut both ways.
Observers also framed the exchange as part of broader Republican nervousness ahead of the midterm elections, amid concerns about candidate messaging and President Trump's approval ratings. The episode follows other party efforts this week to cast doubt on the integrity of the electoral system.
Cruz has long been a polarizing figure: he is frequently criticized for his steadfast loyalty to Trump, for spending significant time on his podcast, and for past public missteps, including moments when he struggled to answer basic foreign-policy questions.
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