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Ted Cruz Squares Off With Chuck Todd On The Threat Of Space Pirates

REUTERS/Yuri Gripas

Virginia Kruta Associate Editor
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MSNBC’s Chuck Todd took a shot at Republican Texas Sen. Ted Cruz on Wednesday, poking fun at him over his defense of a Space Force.

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Yahoo News offered a similar take.

What Cruz actually said, during a Senate budget hearing, was that as more and more nations became capable of space travel, a new kind of piracy could become a threat to American people and interests. (RELATED: Ted Cruz Predicts ‘Anger and Rage’ May Lead To Impeachment)

“Since the ancient Greeks first put to sea, nations have recognized the necessity of naval forces and maintaining a superior capability to protect waterborne travel and commerce from bad actors,” Cruz explained. “Pirates threaten the open seas, and the same is possible in space. In this same way, I believe we too must now recognize the necessity of a Space Force to defend the nation and to protect space commerce and civil space exploration.”

Cruz fired back at Todd in a tweet, saying that “the threat of piracy, espionage & violence from rogue & rival NATIONS is very real,” and explaining that he hadn’t been picturing a 17th-century vessel, complete with black sails and a Jolly Roger.

The Texas senator then called Todd out directly, adding, “You know how to report honestly, and this isn’t it. Next time, include actual facts, not just amusing movie clips….”

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