Overview

• On Fox News’s Hannity on July 29, Sen. Ted Cruz alleged Democrats want more illegal immigrants, murderers, child molesters and gang members in the U.S., insisting “that is not hyperbole.”
• He tied the remarks to Monday’s Manhattan mass shooting, arguing Democrats favor disarming law-abiding citizens over pursuing violent offenders.
• Cruz also falsely asserted that New York mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani supports abolishing the NYPD, a claim refuted by fact-checkers.
• Mediaite and other left-leaning outlets have published critiques highlighting the lack of evidence for his assertions and labeling them partisan fearmongering.
• Observers note the comments coincide with Republican efforts to divert attention from President Trump’s scrutiny over his ties to Jeffrey Epstein.