Ted Cruz explodes at reporter for one-sided questions about face masks, challenges media to stop their 'hypocrisy'

Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) exploded Tuesday at a reporter who questioned why Republican lawmakers were conducting a press conference without wearing face masks.

What happened?

At the end of a press conference from Senate Republicans, a female reporter told Cruz a "glaring visual" existed because the lawmakers were not wearing masks but media members were wearing them.

Cruz, in response, at first explained the "wild hypocrisy" regarding COVID-19 policies that he has observed from President Joe Biden and Dr. Anthony Fauci.

"I think there’s been wild hypocrisy from the Biden administration when it comes to COVID policies — whether mask mandates where Joe Biden rightly said we shouldn’t have mandates, whether vaccine mandates where Joe Biden said we shouldn’t have vaccine mandates," Cruz said. "As far as I know, everyone here has been vaccinated, double vaccinated, been boosted at some point."

"I do know Dr. Fauci’s been all over the map about it. He’s said yes masks, no masks, he’s said, ‘Oh, I lied to the American people because they couldn’t handle it.' You know, at some point, the American people ought to be able to exercise their own freedom and make their decision," Cruz continued. "If you want to wear a mask, God bless you; you can wear a mask for the rest of your life — that's your choice."

Senate Republicans discuss challenge to filibusteryoutu.be

Cruz then angrily tore into the media for refusing to question the Biden administration about its hypocrisy, twice slamming his fist on the lectern for good measure.

"And by the way, on the question of hypocrisy, you just asked, 'You people at the podium are speaking without masks.' Just once, I'd like to see a reporter say to Joe Biden when he stands at the damn podium in the White House without a mask, 'Mr. President, why aren't you wearing a mask?'" Cruz said. "Just once, I’d like to see you say to Jen Psaki, the White House press secretary, when she stands at the podium with no mask, ‘Ms. Psaki, why don’t you have a mask?’"

"The questions are only directed at one side, and I've got to say that the American people see the hypocrisy," Cruz pointed out.

To Cruz's point, any time Biden administration officials — from President Joe Biden himself to White House press secretary Jen Psaki to officials in other agencies — conduct press conferences, they do so while not wearing face masks.

Reporters have not asked them about their practice of removing face masks to speak with media.