Senate

Cruz responds to footage of him dozing off during Biden speech

by Joseph Choi - 04/29/21 12:20 PM ET

GOP Sen. Ted Cruz (Texas) is playing up social media observations that he was sleeping during President Biden’s speech to a joint session of Congress, retweeting footage of the event that appeared to show him closing his eyes.

#BoringButRadical https://t.co/wcK9NQuRte

— Ted Cruz (@tedcruz) April 29, 2021

He also retweeted a screengrab of the address that made it seem as though Vice President Kamala Harris and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) were also dosing off as Biden spoke.

Kamala & Nancy agree….#BoringButRadical https://t.co/1KPcuMhkLT

— Ted Cruz (@tedcruz) April 29, 2021

Cruz called the speech “boring but radical” on social media and in interviews, suggesting Biden’s proposals for sweeping policy changes would alter the country.

Joe Biden is deliberately being boring, but the substance of what he is saying is radical. #BoringButRadical pic.twitter.com/37YS701pyn

— Ted Cruz (@tedcruz) April 29, 2021

“Joe is deliberately being boring, but the substance of what he’s saying is radical,” Cruz said on Fox News.

The Lincoln Project, the political action committee made up of former Republicans, posted a video mocking Cruz by juxtaposing footage of him appearing to fall asleep with images of a beach resort, calling back to when Cruz flew to Cancun, Mexico, while much of Texas lost power due to intense winter storms.

Goodnight Joe
Goodnight Kamala

Goodnight moon
Goodnight Cancun Cruz pic.twitter.com/90vcpCXVBU

— The Lincoln Project (@ProjectLincoln) April 29, 2021

Many online commentators dubbed Cruz “Sleepy Ted,” in reference to the similar nickname former President Trump used to refer to Biden during the 2020 campaign.