Cruz speech at GOP convention prompts 'He should be shot' shouts

During a speech at the Republican midterm convention in Dallas on Thursday, Senator Ted Cruz listed three prominent Democrats, prompting audience members to shout "He should be shot" after each name. The incident occurred as Cruz criticized New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, Michigan Senate candidate Abdul ElSayed, and Texas Senate candidate James Talarico. Cruz, speaking at the convention held at the American Airlines Center, framed the remarks as examples of radical elements within the Democratic Party. He stated, "When Mamdani says he wants to seize the means of production, he means it," followed by a shout from the crowd. He continued, "When Abdul ElSayed says he has an obligation to comply with Sharia law, he means it," and again received the same response. After saying, "And when James Talarico says he wants to dismantle capitalism, he means it," the shout was repeated a third time. Multiple sources reported that Cruz did not address or condemn the shouts during his speech. It remains unclear whether the senator heard the comments. The convention event took place on the one-year anniversary of the death of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, who was assassinated in 2025.