Cruz: Obama Administration ‘Hostile’ to Traditional Marriage

Alissa Tabirian /

Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) slammed the Obama administration’s treatment of marriage, calling it “hostile” and forceful.

“This administration is the most hostile to traditional marriage administration this country’s ever seen,” Cruz said Monday on the conservative talk radio show Wallbuilders Live.

>>> Check Out: State Marriage Laws Are Constitutional. Judges Should Respect Them.

Politico reported that Cruz was referring to the administration’s recognition of same-sex marriages in Utah, “an abuse of power” that directly contradicted the state’s law. The Supreme Court halted Utah’s same-sex marriages last month.

“[T]he administration has been using the authority of the federal government to try to force states, to force federal recognition of marriages that state law prohibits,” Cruz continued.

Cruz and Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) introduced the State Marriage Defense Act last week, legislation that would give states the power to legally define marriage for its residents for federal purposes. Similar legislation was introduced last month in the House.

This story was produced by The Foundry’s news team. Nothing here should be construed as necessarily reflecting the views of The Heritage Foundation.