“We have seen two terrorist attacks in just the last couple of weeks, one in Austin and one in New York City, ” says Cruz
Sen. Ted Cruz said Thursday that the United States has seen “two terrorist attacks” in recent weeks, pointing to one in Austin and another in New York City, as Republicans intensify warnings about domestic security threats tied to broader fears of extremism and possible foreign retaliation.
Cruz made the remark in a social media post and in TV appearances while arguing against efforts to scale back the Department of Homeland Security. But the two incidents he appeared to reference are not identical in legal posture, and authorities have described them with more caution than his wording suggests.
We have seen two terrorist attacks in just the last couple of weeks, one in Austin and one in New York City.
— Senator Ted Cruz (@SenTedCruz) March 12, 2026
The most indefensible part of all of this?
Almost every Democrat has voted to shut down the Department of Homeland Security. pic.twitter.com/aCxim5SwL0
In Austin, a gunman opened fire in the city’s entertainment district on March 1, killing three people and wounding more than a dozen before police shot him dead. The FBI said the shooting was being investigated as a potential act of terrorism, and AP reported that the suspect was wearing clothing bearing an Iranian flag design and the words “Property of Allah.” Authorities have not publicly announced a final terrorism determination.
In New York City, two men were charged after authorities said homemade explosive devices were brought to a protest outside Gracie Mansion, the mayor’s residence. Reuters reported the men were charged with terrorism offenses, while AP said court documents alleged they told police they were inspired by the Islamic State group. Police said one of the devices was capable of causing serious injury or death.
That means Cruz’s broader point tracks with real, recent violent incidents that federal authorities are treating seriously, but his phrasing compresses different stages of investigation into one category. The New York case has produced terrorism charges. The Austin shooting, by contrast, is still being investigated as a potential act of terrorism rather than a formally settled terrorism case.
Cruz’s comments also came as officials separately warned about heightened vigilance tied to tensions involving Iran, though federal and state officials have stressed that some of the most alarming recent claims about imminent threats on U.S. soil remain unverified or lack evidence of a specific, credible plot.
So, is Cruz’s line accurate? Partly. There were two major recent incidents that drew terrorism scrutiny from authorities. But saying flatly that the country “has seen two terrorist attacks” goes further than what officials have definitively established in Austin so far.
