Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) criticized what he called the “woke policies of the left” during a Tuesday appearance on Newsmax, linking California’s devastating wildfires to left-leaning priorities and accusing the Biden administration of neglecting Americans in crisis.
Cruz expressed frustration over the causes and severity of the fires, pointing fingers at progressive policies. “And I got to tell you, you look at these California wildfires,” Cruz said. “One of the most frustrating aspects is a huge cause of these fires and their being as bad as they are has been left-wing policies that have exacerbated.”
He cited forest management and fishery policies as contributing factors to the state’s vulnerability to wildfires but didn’t stop there. Cruz went on to claim that funds were being misallocated by local governments.
“And then number three, the woke policies of the left that prioritize every other political agenda except doing their jobs,” he argued. “They funded, the city of Los Angeles funded a gay men’s choir and a transgender cafe, but they didn’t have the money to fund firefighters to actually stop these fires.”
Cruz continued to criticize these priorities, adding, “Much of this was preventable, and it’s infuriating the policies that have made it worse.”
It is important to note that there is no evidence linking funding for a gay men’s choir or transgender cafes to the recent fires in California. Wildfires in the state are widely understood to be driven by factors such as climate change, drought conditions, and forest management challenges.
Critics of Cruz’s remarks were quick to point out the inaccuracy of his claims and accused him of using the disaster to push partisan rhetoric. California, which frequently grapples with wildfires, has long faced scrutiny over its fire prevention strategies, but experts stress that the causes are far more complex than political talking points.
The Texas senator’s comments also drew attention for their focus on cultural issues rather than actionable solutions. As California continues to recover from the fires, the debate over wildfire prevention and resource allocation is likely to remain a contentious issue in national politics.