Watch: Ted Cruz abruptly ends interview when British reporter confronts him about America’s epidemic of violence

A mass shooting in Uvalde, Texas on Tuesday, May 24 — which left at least 19 students and two teachers dead — has been receiving extensive media coverage not only in the United States, but in other countries as well. Journalists in Europe, following the Uvalde massacre, have been asking: Why does the U.S. have so much senseless violence compared to other countries?

Mark Stone, a reporter for Sky News in the U.K., had that question when he interviewed Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas on May 25. But instead of giving Stone a serious answer, Cruz responded by bashing Democrats and resorting to performative wave-the-flag rhetoric.

When the reporter asked Cruz if it was time to “reform gun laws” in the U.S., the far-right Republican senator responded, “You know, it’s easy to go to politics…. The proposals from Democrats and the media, inevitably — when some violent psychopath murders people…. If you want to stop violent crime, the proposals that the Democrats have, none of them would have stopped this.”

The gunman in Uvalde has been identified as 18-year-old Salvador Ramos, who was also killed.

Stone, interviewing Cruz, noted that the “violent psychopath” he was referring to was able to obtain “two AR-15s…. so easily” — a fact that baffles people in other countries.

“Why does this only happen in your country?” Stone asked Cruz. “I really think that’s what many people around the world just, they cannot fathom. Why only in America? Why is this American exceptionalism so awful?”

Cruz became angry and defensive, resorting to empty GOP talking points and responding, “You know, I’m sorry you think American exceptionalism is so awful…. You’ve got your political agenda…. Why is it that people come from all over the world to America? Because it’s the freest, most prosperous, safest county on Earth. And stop being a propagandist.”

Here are some responses to Cruz’s rant: