Texas Senator Ted Cruz recently faced criticism after suggesting that the phrase “Christ is King” has developed an antisemitic connotation.

The Republican senator expressed his concern, stating that he was “really troubled” by the way the phrase is allegedly being used to demean Jewish people.

‘I agree with the statement Christ is King,’ Cruz told CBN News. ‘Although it is being used online in a way that is meant to say, “screw you, Jew.”‘

Cruz mentioned that the phrase is at times employed “very directly to say, ‘I hate Jews,'” and highlighted its usage within certain right-wing nationalist groups.

“They’re attacking Jews and conclude with ‘Christ is King,’ as if implying there’s a biblical justification for such attacks,” Cruz explained.

Cruz, who identifies as a Southern Baptist Christian, noted that during his upbringing, he did not encounter this phrase in his religious community and proposed alternatives like “Jesus loves you.”

His comments ignited a wave of backlash on social media, where many argued that the phrase is rooted in faith and pledged to continue using it.

Alex Bruesewitz, an adviser to Donald Trump during his last election campaign, was among those to slam the Texas Senator.

Texas Sen. Ted Cruz said that the phrase ‘Christ is King’ was being used to insult and attack Jews

‘It’s not “antisemitic” to say that Christ IS King,’ Bruesewitz wrote on X. ‘It’s the truth.’ 

Cruz explained he had asked his pastor from Houston’s First Baptist Church about the phrase because he was concerned about possible connotations.

‘That’s almost an online code word,’ Cruz said. ‘Christ is King is, “I hate the Jew”.’

But that claim was rejected by social media commenters, who flatly dismissed the Texas Republican’s interpretation.

‘We say Christ Is King because he is,’ one user said. ‘If that’s offensive, that’s the hearer’s problem, not the speaker.’

One user wrote that Cruz was ‘now showing how bigoted he is against Christians by denying that Jesus Christ is our one and only King!’

‘Soon he will declare Christianity antisemitic,’ another added.

‘If “Christ is King” makes you feel attacked in any context, it’s because you have a problem with Christ being King,’ one person wrote.

‘Man, this guy [is] the biggest phony Christian of all time,’ another user added.

In recent years, the phrase ‘Christ is King’ has at times appeared at political rallies, social media posts and speeches by right-wing figures. Pictured: A supporter at the RNC in 2024

Cruz said he never heard the phrase at church while growing up, proposing other alternatives.

‘We would say things like “Jesus loves you, Jesus saves”,’ Cruz said.

The GOP lawmaker added that ‘Christ is King’ appeared to have originated from the internet.

‘Christ is King is a phrase that seems to have originated online,’ Cruz said. ‘It summoned kind of the groyper folks. It almost sort of invokes images of the crusade that in the name of Jesus, we will conquer everyone else in a way that I don’t think is right or biblical. ‘

Groypers are a loose network of far-right activists and internet trolls, many of whom are fans of provocateur Nick Fuentes.

In recent years, the phrase ‘Christ is King’ has at times appeared at political rallies, social media posts and speeches by right-wing figures.

Some conservative influencers, including Candace Owens, have also popularized the phrase and sold branded merchandise.

Owens, a right-wing political commentator, has previously shared antisemitic conspiracies.

Cruz said the phrase appeared to have originated online and that it ‘summoned’ fans of far right provocateur Nick Fuentes, known as groypers 

Cruz was being asked about podcasters who ‘say one thing out of their mouths that’s very, not just anti-Israel, but anti-Semitic’ when he shared his views about the phrase.

A 2025 report by the Rutgers University-affiliated Network Contagion Research Institute said that ‘Christ is King’ was being ‘weaponized’ towards Jews and being used to spread antisemitic narratives.

At a February 9 hearing of the Religious Liberty Commission – a federal advisory body formed by US President Donald Trump – witness Seth Dillon testified that people often followed the phrase with contemptuous slurs towards Jews.

Like Cruz, Dillon claimed the phrase had been co-opted by groypers. He said it was ‘using the Lord’s name in an abusive manner.’

The Daily Mail has reached out to Cruz’s office for comment.