Senator Ted Cruz recently alleged that progressive candidates and Democrats aim to abolish major holidays like Thanksgiving and Christmas while simultaneously pushing for Sharia law in the US.
WASHINGTON, DC: During a recent discussion regarding Michigan polls and the broader Democratic Party, Senator Ted Cruz asserted that left-leaning politicians seek to dismantle traditional American holidays. Specifically, he pointed to figures like Abdul El-Sayed and Zohran Mamdani, labeling them part of a “green-red convergence” involving communists and Islamists. A closer look at these assertions reveals the facts behind the rhetoric.
The Allegation: Democrats Plan to Cancel Thanksgiving and Christmas
Appearing on Fox News with host Jesse Watters, Cruz was asked if Democrats ultimately wanted to cancel Thanksgiving. The senator answered affirmatively, claiming that various Democratic candidates are intent on getting rid of both Thanksgiving and Christmas.
“They’re crazy enough, yes, they want to cancel Thanksgiving, they want to cancel Christmas. Look, these communists hate America. They hate capitalism. (Abdul) El-Sayed is also an Islamist, as is (Zohran) Mamdani,” Cruz stated during the broadcast.
He further elaborated, warning of a “green-red convergence” where communists and Islamists allegedly unite to promote Sharia law and harbor animosity toward Christians, Jews, capitalism, and the United States, describing the mix as a “toxic stew.”
Critics quickly took to social media to push back against the remarks. One post on X argued that the senator was intentionally spreading falsehoods to stoke fear and drive voter turnout for Republicans.
BREAKING: Ted Cruz lies that Democrats support getting rid of Thanksgiving and Christmas while implementing Sharia Law. Democrats do not support these things. Ted Cruz knows this. He’s a pathological liar trying to scare people into voting Republican. pic.twitter.com/wh4adS50IS
— Trump Lie Tracker (Commentary Account) (@MAGALieTracker) August 5, 2026
Fact-Checking the Claims
Available evidence shows that Ted Cruz‘s characterization of these Democrats is unfounded. There are no records indicating that Michigan Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed or New York City political figure Zohran Mamdani have ever advocated for ending Thanksgiving or Christmas.
While El-Sayed has previously critiqued the historical narrative surrounding Thanksgiving and its impact on Indigenous populations—noting in a 2019 social media post that the holiday is tied to the “systematic annihilation” of Native Americans and suggesting reparations—he stopped short of calling for the holiday’s abolition.
Cruz’s accusations appear to draw partly from past statements made by Wisconsin political figure Francesca Hong, who is associated with the Democratic Socialists of America. In 2020, Hong shared a post stating, “Cancel Thanksgiving. Should have done this in 1621…” as part of a critique of colonialism.
However, during a subsequent CNN appearance, Hong did not reiterate that call, explaining instead that the holiday can evoke painful feelings for many in local communities and emphasizing that personal viewpoints can evolve over time.
Ultimately, neither the broader Democratic Party nor the specific individuals targeted by Cruz support the elimination of major American holidays or the implementation of Sharia law. These claims remain entirely unsupported by facts.