Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) is facing widespread criticism after mocking Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker’s appearance during a Wednesday interview on Newsmax. Cruz, who has a long history of incendiary comments, referred to Pritzker as a “disgusting, racist bigot” in response to the governor’s opposition to President Donald Trump’s threats to send National Guard troops into Illinois.
In the same segment, Cruz attempted a weight-related insult, saying he didn’t “want to get in between J.B. Pritzker and the Domino’s Pizza line.” The remark drew sharp backlash online, where critics accused the senator of resorting to body-shaming instead of substantive debate.
Governor Pritzker wasted no time responding with a jab of his own. Posting on X, he wrote, “And I would never want to get between Ted and a trip to Cancun when there’s an emergency in Texas,” a pointed reminder of Cruz’s controversial trip during Texas’s devastating winter storm in 2021.
The exchange quickly spread across social media platforms, where analysts, journalists, and political commentators joined in mocking Cruz. Journalist Julie DiCaro wrote on Bluesky, “Look how proud Ted is of his fat joke. Ted Cruz, who looks like that.”
Podcaster Bob Cesca added, “Funny how doughy misshapen Ted Cruz and doughy misshapen Donald Trump are body-shaming Pritzker. He who is without D-cup manboobs cast the first fat joke.” Writer Roxanne Gay questioned Cruz’s judgment, posting, “I know Ted Cruz isn’t trying to talk s— about someone else’s weight.”
Historian Kevin Kruse pointed to the senator’s history of inflammatory comments, saying, “Hey, everyone, Ted Cruz is making fun of another politician’s appearance. Ted Cruz!” Other critics chimed in with biting remarks. Podcast host Liz Dye wrote, “Ted Cruz making fat jokes while embracing that body-skimming close-up and rockin’ the ambiguous neck beard.”
Lawyer Bradley Moss asked, “Are Ted Cruz and Donald Trump under the impression they’re skinny? Have they seen their own waistlines? Glass houses, boys. Glass houses.” Writer Matt Anderson summed up the mood on Bluesky with, “Ted Cruz wouldn’t get between Donald Trump and his own wife.”
The backlash highlights the risks of politicians turning to personal attacks instead of policy debate. While Cruz’s comments were likely intended to rally conservative media audiences, the overwhelming online response suggests that body-shaming may have backfired, drawing more attention to the senator’s own vulnerabilities than to his intended target.