In a Senate committee hearing Wednesday, Sen. Tim Kaine, R-Va., a former vice-presidential candidate, decried the claim posited in the Declaration of Independence that rights of people come from the Creator.

WATCH:

Dem Sen. Kaine: “The notion that rights don’t come from laws and don’t come from the government, but come from the Creator…”

“That’s what the Iranian government believes.” pic.twitter.com/11sNf1iDfX

— Fox News (@FoxNews) September 4, 2025

Sen. Ted Cruz took issue with Kaine’s characterization.

Our rights don’t come from government or the DNC.

They come from God. @timkaine, I suggest the Dems go back and read the words of our Founding Fathers. pic.twitter.com/QRmhTcbbOH

— Ted Cruz (@tedcruz) September 3, 2025