Ted Cruz Warns Against Cheering Syrian Regime Change

Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) sounded the alarm over the recent collapse of Bashar al-Assad’s regime in Syria, warning that the groups who overtook Assad may be far worse than the dictator himself. Speaking on his podcast Verdict with co-host Ben Ferguson, Cruz highlighted the implications of the regime change and its potential dangers for the U.S. and its allies.

“Assad’s fall is a major loss for Russia, Iran, and Hezbollah, all of whom were his allies,” Cruz said. “But the rebels who have toppled him may well be even worse. It is radical Islamists who have been fighting against him remnants of Al-Qaeda, remnants of the Islamic State and the people of Syria, Israel, and America may soon find that the new leadership is even worse than the old.”

A Pattern of Failure

Cruz pointed to past instances of regime change where U.S. support for ousting dictators ultimately backfired:

• Saddam Hussein: The fall of the Iraqi dictator created a vacuum that allowed terrorist groups to thrive and led to prolonged conflict.

• The Cuban Revolution: Cheered by many in 1959, the revolution ultimately replaced one oppressive regime with another under Fidel Castro.

• Libya: The ouster of Muammar Gaddafi led to chaos and the rise of terrorist factions.

Cruz explained, “We’ve seen a pattern for the past 20 years of Americans supporting people toppling dictators who are fighting terrorists, only to have the terrorists take over and start fighting Americans instead. My perspective is simple: is this good for America or not? At best, it is too soon to tell.”

A Dangerous New Reality

Acknowledging Assad’s monstrous record, Cruz argued that toppling him could unleash new threats. “This moment feels a lot like other dictators who were toppled, only to have something worse replace them,” he said. He emphasized the urgent need to ensure that chemical weapons, previously under Assad’s control, do not fall into the hands of groups like ISIS or Al-Qaeda.

Cruz underscored the precarious position of both the Syrian people and U.S. national security: “It’s an exceptionally dangerous time right now. We must do everything we can to prevent these weapons from being used against Americans.”

The fall of Assad marks a major geopolitical shift, but Cruz’s warnings serve as a stark reminder: regime change does not always mean progress. With terrorist groups vying for power, the aftermath may bring even greater instability to the region and beyond.

Share this article with your friends or subscribe to our newsletter for more.