“‘Don’t Clap for That’: Ted Cruz’s Daughter’s Reaction to Trump Praise Goes Viral”

On election night in Texas, Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) celebrated his victory, expressing enthusiastic support for former President Donald Trump, who had just won the presidential race. Yet Cruz’s fervor was not shared by all in his family. In a moment captured on camera and now viral on TikTok, Cruz’s 16-year-old daughter visibly reacted to her father’s praise for Trump, revealing a stark difference in opinion.

During his victory speech, Cruz, surrounded by family and supporters, voiced his hope for a Trump reelection. “I believe and I hope and pray that Donald Trump will be reelected as President of the United States,” he told the cheering crowd. As Cruz spoke, his daughter’s expression quickly shifted from a cheerful smile to a disapproving scowl, showing a candid reaction in the midst of the celebration, according to media reports.

She then turned to her mother, Heidi Cruz, saying, “Don’t clap for that.” The clip, capturing the eyebrow-raising moment, has since taken off on TikTok, amassing nearly 4 million views by Thursday. Many viewers resonated with her reaction, commenting on the authenticity of her expression. “She didn’t even try to hide it,” one TikTok user wrote, while another added, “The ‘don’t clap for that’ is so valid.”

Cruz, who just won his third term in the U.S. Senate, had little trouble defeating his Democratic opponent, Rep. Colin Allred, maintaining Texas’s 30-year history of electing Republicans in statewide races. Nonetheless, his daughter’s reaction added an unexpected dynamic to his otherwise straightforward victory celebration.

This isn’t the first time Cruz’s daughter has openly disagreed with her father’s political stances. In 2021, she went viral for sharing her differing views on her father’s politics in a now-deleted TikTok video, stating, “I really disagree with most of his views.” Her candid remarks then drew significant media attention, shedding light on the generational divide within Cruz’s own family when it comes to politics.

For Cruz’s supporters, his election night remarks reaffirmed his alignment with Trump’s policies and the broader conservative base in Texas. Yet, his daughter’s visible reaction resonated widely, with many social media users applauding her authenticity and willingness to express herself publicly, despite her father’s influential status. Her reaction reflects a broader trend where young people are increasingly vocal about their political views, even when they clash with those of their families.

As the video continues to circulate online, Cruz’s daughter’s unfiltered response underscores a generational divide that is becoming more visible as younger Americans bring their perspectives to public discussions, often through social media. For now, her reaction stands as a reminder that, in an era of highly polarized politics, personal beliefs can diverge sharply—even within the same household.

The viral moment has given the public a glimpse into the complexities of family dynamics in political families, sparking conversations about how younger generations view the political decisions and rhetoric of their elders. As one TikTok user put it, “She’s saying what a lot of us are feeling.”