Austin race fans booed Ted Cruz for 90 seconds
The Texas senator was jeered on the podium and during his announcement before handing the trophy to Kimi Antonelli.
By Leila Saeed ·
The crowd at the Circuit of the Americas turned its attention to the podium on Sunday.
Senator Ted Cruz stepped up to present the Formula One trophy to Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli. As the Texas Republican stood on the stage, the audience began to boo. The noise continued relentlessly until Cruz placed the trophy in Antonelli's hands. Once the handoff was complete, the jeers stopped and were replaced by cheers.
The disapproval started before the race began. Social media posts from spectators captured the moment Cruz was introduced as a dignitary. The booing at the introduction set the tone for the afternoon. During the post-race ceremony, the crowd maintained the negative reaction. F1 commentator David Croft noted the dynamic during the live broadcast on Sky Sports. He observed that the midterm elections are approaching and that voters are expressing their views vocally.
Cruz is not on the ballot for the upcoming midterms. He has not confirmed a second run for the presidency, yet political observers say he is effectively campaigning. The booing at the race follows a similar incident in September. On Sept. 12, Cruz appeared in person on ESPN's College Game Day. The crowd booed him during an interview segment before the Texas Longhorns football game against Ohio State.
That September appearance was tied to the Protect College Sports Act. The bill was passed by the Senate and is now awaiting final approval in the House. Critics argue the legislation limits student athlete earnings and blocks unionization efforts.
Cruz addressed the Austin event on X on Sunday. His post described the day as a special outing with his daughter, Caroline. He called it a perfect Dad-daughter afternoon and congratulated Antonelli on the win. Cruz stated that the eyes of the racing world were on Texas and that it was an honor to present the championship trophy. The tweet did not mention the crowd's reaction.
The race concluded with Antonelli taking the first-place trophy. The podium ceremony ended, and the crowd moved on.
Source: San Antonio Current
