On September 30, 2025, the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee gathered in Washington, D.C., for what was expected to be a routine—if tense—hearing on America’s urban crime crisis and the Trump administration’s controversial response. But as the hearing unfolded, it was Texas Senator Ted Cruz who unexpectedly became the center of attention, not for his policy proposals, but for a verbal slip that ricocheted across social media and news outlets within hours.
In a moment now immortalized in viral video clips, Cruz, 54, was calling for bipartisan unity on fighting crime. He began, “How about we all come together and say, ‘Let’s stop murders.’ How about we all come together and say, ‘Let’s stop rape.’” But then, in a flub that would soon become infamous, he continued: “How about we all come together and say, ‘Let’s stop attacking pedophiles.’” According to Snopes, Cruz genuinely uttered the phrase—though he clearly intended to say something closer to “let’s stop pedophiles.”
The hearing, officially titled “Hearing on Trump Administration’s Response to Crime in Cities,” was focused on falling crime rates in Washington, D.C., following the deployment of the National Guard. As reported by The Daily Beast and The Independent, Cruz was referencing statistics showing robbery down by 57%, homicide by 58%, and sex abuse by 40% (or 48%, depending on the outlet) after the Guard’s arrival. He was building on remarks from Senator Cory Booker, D-N.J., who had earlier called for bipartisan agreement on public safety. “Sen. Booker also said, ‘We should have bipartisan agreement.’ I think that’s a great idea. We should have bipartisan agreement,” Cruz said, before launching into the now-notorious list.
What happened next was a textbook example of how a single verbal slip can explode online. Within hours, short video clips of Cruz’s gaffe began circulating on X (formerly Twitter), Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Threads, LinkedIn, and Bluesky. Some of the most widely shared posts came from accounts with a history of criticizing both Cruz and former President Donald Trump. According to Snopes, millions of users viewed the five-second video, which was often stripped of context, making the senator’s blunder seem even more egregious.
Critics wasted no time. The New York Post and The Independent highlighted the avalanche of online mockery, with one X user demanding, “No! How about you all stop protecting them. Release the Epstein files, NOW!” Others posted memes and sarcastic commentary, with one image reading, “PEDOPHILIA IS OK NOW,” and another quipping, “Are we sure it’s an accident?” The gaffe also reignited conspiracy theories about the government’s handling of files related to the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein—a topic Cruz himself has addressed in the past, calling for full disclosure and prosecution of all involved.
Some observers saw irony in Cruz’s slip, noting his recent vote against a Democratic amendment that would have required the Justice Department to release all Epstein-related files. As The Daily Beast reported, Cruz joined most GOP senators in narrowly defeating the measure, despite previously telling Piers Morgan that all documents should be released and that “every adult who was culpable and responsible should be named and criminally prosecuted.” This context, coupled with Cruz’s blunder, fueled a fresh round of criticism and speculation about transparency and accountability in cases of high-profile sexual abuse.
Despite the uproar, Cruz did not pause to correct his mistake during the hearing. Instead, he pivoted to touting the Trump administration’s law enforcement efforts. “I want you to look at what happened when the National Guard went to D.C. Robbery fell by 57%. Homicide fell by 58%. Sex abuse fell by 40%,” he declared, referencing data attributed to the Metropolitan Police Department’s website. As WISN and Associated Press confirmed, these statistics were accurate and reflected a notable drop in crime following the Guard’s deployment.
By the following day, Cruz’s office issued a statement to multiple outlets, including the Houston Chronicle and San Antonio Express-News, attempting to clarify the incident. A spokesperson said, “It was a verbal slip. Senator Cruz was rattling off a series of crimes we should unite in opposing, started a sentence about opposing pedophilia, and added a stray word while talking it out.” The statement emphasized that Cruz was advocating for tough action against sexual predators, not defending them—a point that was lost in the brevity of the viral clips.
Yet, the damage was done. The slip became late-night fodder and a trending topic across platforms, with some users linking it to broader debates about crime, partisanship, and public trust in government. The gaffe also became entangled in ongoing discussions about the Trump administration’s urban crime policies. During the same hearing, Cruz had echoed Trump’s rhetoric, calling Democratic crime policies deadly and praising the use of federal forces in places like Washington, Chicago, and Portland. According to Associated Press, President Trump had described the situation as an “invasion from within” and urged military leaders to use “dangerous” cities as training grounds.
On the other side of the aisle, some Democrats seized on the moment to question not only Cruz’s rhetoric but also the effectiveness of Trump’s law-and-order approach. While the statistics Cruz cited were accurate, critics argued that federal crackdowns could have unintended consequences and that long-term solutions require investment in community resources, not just increased policing.
The Cruz gaffe also brought renewed attention to the power of social media in shaping political narratives. As Snopes observed, the brevity and lack of context in viral videos can distort public perception, turning a momentary slip into a symbol of deeper political dysfunction. Some users, meanwhile, cautioned against reading too much into a single mistake, pointing out that politicians on both sides are prone to verbal missteps under the glare of national scrutiny.
For Cruz, this was hardly his first brush with controversy or viral fame. Just weeks earlier, he had gone viral for adopting a New York mobster accent during an interview about late-night host Jimmy Kimmel’s temporary suspension. He called the FCC’s actions “dangerous as hell” and likened them to something “right out of Goodfellas,” drawing both laughs and criticism. As The Independent reported, Kimmel’s return to the airwaves drew a record 6.2 million viewers, with fellow comedians rallying to his defense.
As of October 2, 2025, neither Cruz nor the White House had issued further statements on the Senate hearing gaffe. Cruz’s office, however, made it clear to Snopes and others that the senator’s intent was to call for unity in fighting all forms of violent crime, not to shield or defend offenders. Still, the episode serves as a vivid reminder of how quickly a single sentence—especially one uttered in error—can become a flashpoint in the nation’s political and cultural battles.
In the end, Cruz’s verbal slip may be remembered less for its content than for the firestorm it sparked, highlighting the perils of public speaking in a digital age where every word can be replayed, reinterpreted, and relentlessly scrutinized.
