Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) criticized Democrats in Texas for their muted reaction to far-left streamer Hasan Piker being invited by the University of Texas’ College Democrats chapter to speak on campus later this month — despite his record of antisemitic rhetoric. 

Cruz told Jewish Insider in a statement on Thursday that Piker’s upcoming appearance at UT Austin and the lack of condemnation from Democrats in the state was indicative of the broader state of the Democratic Party. 

“Hasan Piker is an America-hating Marxist who has said that America deserved 9/11 and celebrates political violence against Republicans,” Cruz told JI. “Americans are entitled to free speech, but it is incumbent upon good people to condemn Piker’s incitement.”

“Instead, some Democrats are bringing him to college campuses, while almost all other Democrats are conspicuously silent or worse. It says everything about the state of their party,” he continued.

Cruz has led the charge in urging the GOP to disavow antisemitic figures within the conservative movement such as commentators Tucker Carlson, Nick Fuentes and Candace Owens, and has criticized fellow Republicans who refuse to weigh in on the subject as “cowards.” 

Allies of the Texas senator launched a political organization in July to support his efforts to counter antisemitism in the Republican Party and prevent the GOP from mimicking what Cruz has repeatedly described as the Democratic Party’s anti-Israel turn. 

On the school’s Austin campus, the Piker event has sparked concern among Jewish students, faculty and parents, including several who have pushed to have the appearance canceled. Several Jewish University of Texas students told JI this week that Piker’s appearance could be a black eye for a school that they say has been one of the most welcoming in the country for Jewish students in the aftermath of the Oct. 7 terror attacks. 

Piker’s appearance is scheduled for Sept. 30, amid the final stretch of Texas’ high-profile Senate race between Republican Ken Paxton, the state’s attorney general, and Democrat James Talarico, a state representative. The state is also holding a competitive gubernatorial contest between GOP Gov. Greg Abbott and Democrat Gina Hinojosa.

Talarico’s campaign did not respond to multiple requests for comment from JI about Piker’s invitation to appear at the state’s flagship public university. A spokesperson for Hinojosa did not address Piker’s invitation in a statement to JI.   

Jewish Insider news reporter Haley Cohen contributed reporting.