Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) has never been one to back down from a fight, and an explosive moment from a 2020 Senate hearing proves just how much he rattles left-wing politicians. In a heated exchange, Cruz completely dismantled Sen. Mazie Hirono (D-HI) after she refused—yet again—to denounce violent leftist groups like Antifa and Black Lives Matter. Rather than face Cruz’s challenge, Hirono stormed out of the hearing in an embarrassing retreat.
While the video may be from 2020, its relevance remains undeniable, especially as Hirono continues to push radical left-wing narratives in the Senate. The clip serves as a reminder of how Democrats repeatedly refuse to hold their own accountable while attempting to smear conservatives at every turn.
Hirono Dodges and Deflects Instead of Condemning Antifa
The exchange took place during a hearing on leftist violence, a topic Democrats are notoriously uncomfortable addressing. Cruz repeatedly pressed Hirono and other Democratic senators to explicitly denounce Antifa’s violent actions. Instead of a simple “yes,” Hirono launched into a long-winded rant, trying to shift the blame onto conservatives.
“So how many times have I had to say that we all should be denouncing violent extremists of every stripe?” Hirono snapped, clearly frustrated that Cruz wasn’t letting her off the hook. She then attempted to deflect, bizarrely accusing Republicans of using the deaths of black police officers for “political points.”
She continued with a classic Democrat tactic—downplaying leftist violence while wrapping herself in the First Amendment. “Now there are all these attacks about Black Lives Matter and what they’re saying. I mean, how many of us even think that defunding police departments should be taken literally? I mean, I certainly don’t. So, you know, we have this pesky thing called freedom of speech.”
Apparently, burning down cities, attacking police officers, and causing billions in damage is just “freedom of speech” in Hirono’s world.
Cruz Calls Out Democrats’ Silence on Leftist Violence
As the hearing was about to wrap up, Hirono abruptly stood up, clearly unwilling to sit through another moment of Cruz exposing her party’s hypocrisy. “I hope this is the end of this hearing, Mr. Chairman, and that we don’t have to listen to any more of your rhetorical speeches. Thank you very much. I’m leaving,” she sneered before walking out.
But Cruz wasn’t about to let her off the hook that easily. As she scurried away, he torched her with one final truth bomb:
“Well, I appreciate the, as always, kind and uplifting words of Senator Hirono,” Cruz quipped, his voice dripping with sarcasm. He then pointed out what every American watching already knew—Hirono, like the rest of the Democratic Party, refused to utter a single negative word about Antifa.
“They instead engage in a political game,” Cruz said, “where they depend… You’re welcome to say something negative about Antifa right now.”
Hirono’s response? More silence. More cowardice. More proof that Democrats are terrified to upset their radical base.
Democrats Refuse to Condemn Leftist Attacks on Law Enforcement
Cruz wasn’t done exposing the left’s double standards. He went on to highlight how multiple top Democrats, including then-Speaker Nancy Pelosi, had labeled law enforcement as “storm troopers” and “Gestapo” during the riots of 2020. Not a single Democratic senator at the hearing apologized for or denounced those disgraceful remarks.
Hirono had one last chance to distance herself from Antifa’s extremism. But as she left the room, she merely muttered, “I think that I’ve covered the subject quite well.”
Her refusal to take a stand speaks volumes. The modern Democratic Party is so beholden to its radical activist base that even acknowledging Antifa’s violence is off-limits. Instead, they gaslight the American people, pretending leftist riots never happened while labeling conservatives as “threats to democracy.”
Ted Cruz exposed that hypocrisy in brutal fashion—and Mazie Hirono knew she had no defense. That’s why she ran.