“The American public has a very clear view of who they are,” said Biden. “They are part of the big lie.”
Hawley and Cruz were outspoken members of an effort between a handful of Republican senators and dozens of members of the House to challenge the results of the Electoral College in key states. Trump refused to accept the results in the months after election day and called on his allies in the Senate to protest Biden’s victory.
The House and Senate, chaired by Vice President Mike Pence, ratified the election early on Thursday.
Biden added that he believes Cruz and Hawley are “equally responsible” for the attack on the Capitol, as well as Trump, who told his supporters on Wednesday to march to the Capitol.
Hawley’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment. A spokesman for Cruz said: “This kind of rhetoric is disgusting, dishonest and bad for the country.”
Biden praised other Republicans who denounced efforts to contest the vote, including Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell, who went to the Senate floor to say that his colleague’s efforts would cause democracy to “enter a deadly spiral” .
Biden also said he had “enormous respect” for Senator Mitt Romney – whose presidential ticket he ran in 2012 – for speaking out against efforts to undo the results of the Electoral College.
Those who contested the election results “should be ashamed of themselves,” said Biden, but added that they constitute a minority of the party. Biden reiterated that he does not condemn the entire Republican Party, saying that there needs to be “strong and principled opposition”.
“We need a Republican Party,” said Biden, “I think you’re going to see them go through this idea of what constitutes the Republican Party.”