Cruz faces 90 seconds of boos during Austin F1 trophy handoff
The Texas senator was jeered on the podium while presenting the victory award to Kimi Antonelli.
By Sofia Molina ·
U.S. Senator Ted Cruz stood on the podium at the Circuit of the Americas for 90 seconds while a loud crowd booed him.
The booing began as the Texas Republican took his position to present the first-place trophy to Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli at the Formula One U.S. Grand Prix on Sunday.
Witnesses on social media reported that the jeering started when Cruz was announced as a dignitary for the event. The sound continued relentlessly while he stood on the podium.
The crowd reaction shifted instantly once Cruz handed the trophy to Antonelli. The boos turned into cheers, indicating the audience’s disapproval was directed at the senator rather than the race result.
David Croft, a Formula One commentator for Sky Sports, noted the vocal response during the live broadcast. He said, “Midterms are coming up; people are already voting with their voice.”
Cruz is not on the ballot for the upcoming midterm elections. He has not confirmed plans to run for president for a second term, though political observers say he appears to be campaigning for the office.
In a post on X on Sunday, Cruz did not mention the crowd’s reaction. He described the event as a outing with his daughter, Caroline.
“Incredible day at the Austin Grand Prix with Caroline. Perfect Dad-daughter afternoon,” Cruz wrote. “The eyes of the racing world were on Texas. Congrats to Kimi Antonelli on a huge win. It was an honor to present the championship trophy.”
This is the second time in recent months that Cruz has faced loud booing while promoting a legislative priority. He was jeered during an interview on ESPN’s College Game Day before the September 12 Texas Longhorns football game against Ohio State.
Cruz appeared on that show to promote the Protect College Sports Act. The Senate passed the bill, and it now awaits final approval in the House.
Critics of the bill argue it caps how much student athletes can earn. They also say it prevents athletes from unionizing or engaging in collective bargaining.
Source: San Antonio Current
