U.S. Sen. Cruz discusses foreign policy, climate change at 2019 Trib Fest

AUSTIN — U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz sat down with MSNBC’s Chris Hayes for a live afternoon taping of Hayes’ “Why Is This Happening?” podcast at the Paramount Theatre in Austin at the Texas Tribune Festival on Saturday, Sept 28.

Hayes began the discussion with a conversation on conservatism in 2019 and President Donald Trump. Cruz said that Texans like Trump’s policy and the economy.

“I hear from Texans all the time, ‘I wish someone would take away his Twitter,’” Cruz said.

“As you know, Donald Trump was not my first choice for president — but he won — and when he won I had a job to do which was represent 28 million Texans and work with him and I think on the substance we’ve accomplished an enormous amount.

Foreign Policy

Cruz said there were two foreign policy decisions that were made by Trump that were critically important. One was moving the embassy from Israel to Jerusalem and the second was pulling out of the Iran nuclear deal that was made under President Barack Obama.

“I understand why democrats are drawn to candidates who have a bold vision. Now it so happens that I think the vision they’re advancing doesn’t work — that it’s bad policy ideas,” Cruz said. “But I think a president having strength and boldness is a good characteristic.”

Cruz said the animosity the far left has for Trump and the way that Schumer and Pelosi started the administration “resulted in a much more conservative set of policies being implemented.”

Cruz went on to say that he thought the Iraq War was a mistake. Hayes asked if he had come out against the war at the time and Cruz said he was more engaged in domestic policy at the time.

Cruz said he looks at Iran fundamentally different.

“The Ayatollah Khomeini is a theocratic zealot who pledges death to America. I think it is a real religiously driven fervor that is profoundly dangerous,” he said. “That’s why I’ve opposed the Iran deal so vociferously.”

Cruz said that we should do whatever is necessary to stop Iran from getting a nuclear weapon. Hayes asked if that included military action or bombing. Cruz said if it is necessary.

“If military force was the only way to stop it… absolutely yes but I have no interest in invading Iran and trying to turn them into Switzerland,” Cruz responded.

Hayes noted that it does not stop with a bomb.

“You don’t get to control the reaction of your intervention,” Hayes said.

“I think the dovishness of the left invites conflict. I think it increases the chance of military conflict,” Cruz said.

The conversation shifted to foreign policy in North Korea.

“I have real concerns about our policy in North Korea,” Cruz said.

“I believe the most powerful tool in politics and diplomacy is the bully pulpit of the presidency — I wish this president used it differently.”

Climate Change

Hayes started the conversation on climate change by asking if Cruz agreed that human activity is putting carbon in the atmosphere, that Carbon is warming earth and the fact that we need to reduce carbon emissions. Cruz said that the first statement is unequivocally correct but the data is mixed for the remaining statements, to which Hayes disagreed.

“I am the son of two scientists,” Cruz said. “My parents are mathematicians and computer programmers. I believe in science. I believe in data. I believe in following science and data.”

“I believe we have a responsibility to clean up the environment. I want clean air. I want clean water. My children breathe and drink water. I’d like my grandchildren to be able to breathe and drink clean water,” Cruz said.

“I think much of what is going on politically is you have politicians who are socialist whether they admit it or not. Climate is a good excuse to say you’ve got to have socialism or else all of humanity is gonna die, he said.

Cruz went on to say that whatever the next energy source is that becomes the dominant one — Texas entrepreneurs will be driving it.

Trump’s conversation with the head of Ukraine

The next topic of discussion was the July exchange between President Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

Both characterize Trump as asking the Ukrainian government’s assistance in investigating allegations against the business activities of Jo Biden’s son, Hunter Biden.

“I’ve read the entire transcript,” Cruz said. “I’ve also read what is being referred to as the whistleblower complaint. I’ve read them both cover to cover.”

“I expected it to be much worse than it was,” Cruz said of the phone call summary.

“I will readily acknowledge that the Biden part is more troubling,” Cruz added.

The senator also said that there is not an illegal quid pro quo in the rough transcript of the phone call.

“In the legal world there are principles of conflict of interest and there’s also the question of an appearance of impropriety,” the senator said. “Donald Trump says things frequently that I wish he wouldn’t say.”

He added that this is a long way away from saying he should be removed from office and said that Democrats are not focused on facts.

“They want him impeached and whatever the facts are fine,” Cruz said.

Click here to watch a recording of "Why is This Happening? with Chris Hayes.