“I think the American people ought to be saying to Elon, ‘Thank you, thank you, thank you!’” the Texas Senator said on Fox News.

Ted Cruz used a Fox News interview to act as a human shield for Elon Musk, demanding Americans get down and kiss the billionaire’s feet for his DOGE work.

Musk has called time on his stint at the Trump administration, with his 130-day “special government employee” status elapsing on May 30. His time at Trump’s side was tumultuous, with Tesla caught up in the pushback against his cost-cutting DOGE.

Cruz appears shocked by the backlash, telling Fox News’s Sean Hannity on Wednesday evening that Americans should be expressing deep gratitude to Musk and chanting “Thank you, thank you, thank you!”