Former Acting Attorney General Sally Yates’ testimony before a Senate Judiciary subcommittee transfixed America on Monday, and Twitter erupted in praise for her unshakeable defense of the law, her unwavering moral compass — and especially her deft takedown of Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas).

Tweets praised Yates’ straightforward, clear-eyed recounting of her alerts to the Trump administration that former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn could be vulnerable to blackmail by the Kremlin because of his talks with Russian officials — and her decision that Donald Trump’s first travel ban was unlawful.

Statement of the year:

"To state the obvious, you don't want your national security advisor compromised with the Russians."

Sally Yates — ALT🛂 Immigration (@ALT_uscis) May 8, 2017

Concerning the travel ban, Cruz asked Yates if she knew of any other time in history when the U.S. attorney general refused to defend a policy that had been approved by its Office of Legal Counsel — which is what Yates was fired for. No, Yates conceded, but she added, “I’m also not aware of a situation where the OLC was advised not to tell the attorney general” until after an executive order was launched.

Some tweets hailed Yates’ cool, intelligent face-off with Republican men as inspirational. Others pleaded with her to run for office. Actor and activist George Takei noted that she could be America’s future leader.

A few were frustrated and angry by the men grilling her — and frequently cutting her off — trying to “mansplain” issues to their “superior.”

Sally Yates is the kind of woman America needs to lead us. — George Takei (@GeorgeTakei) May 8, 2017

Dear @SenateGOP:



This is #SallyYates. She has far more gonadal fortitude than you to stand up to Putin. Be like Sally. pic.twitter.com/RKRdYSfVuY — Laura (@SheWhoVotes) May 8, 2017

As a dad, I would tell my daughter to be more like #SallyYates and less like @IvankaTrump. Being responsible is better than being complicit. — Resistance Fighter (@resistnumber45) May 8, 2017

"There was a power to her intellectual and moral confidence that ... I think is driving @realDonaldTrump crazy." @HardballChris #SallyYates — Hardball (@hardball) May 8, 2017

Can't remember when there's been this much hype around a public figure's debut & they actually delivered. Quite a job by Sally Yates today. — Matthew Miller (@matthewamiller) May 8, 2017

Ooooooooo Sally Yates is destroying Ted Cruz. You messed with the wrong former Acting AG, Teddy boy. #SallyYates pic.twitter.com/Wzdyw20dWx — Mike Gibbs (@Mikeggibbs) May 8, 2017

The best response in the room to #tedcruz and his babbling nonsense #SallyYates pic.twitter.com/eVjbCerkwj best 6 seconds ever! — 'DON Da CON (@DannyMelvinSr1) May 9, 2017

Dear Sally Yates-



Thank you.



America — Scott Dworkin (@funder) May 8, 2017

Can I vote #SallyYates for something, anything? — ♻️ Christopher Zullo (@ChrisJZullo) May 8, 2017

Since real life doesn't have a dream sequence/flashback feature, I made this. #SallyYates pic.twitter.com/0mr0JLrGUe — Parker Molloy (@ParkerMolloy) May 8, 2017

Sally Yates handles condescending men so well you'd almost think she'd been doing it her whole life. — Liana Maeby (@lianamaeby) May 8, 2017

In my darkest hours I will think of Sally Yates destroying Ted Cruz on national television, and it will sustain me. — Molly Knight (@molly_knight) May 8, 2017

Thoroughly enjoying #SallyYates infuriating Cruz and crew simply by being an intelligent, persistent woman who refuses to be silenced. — not (@nmehranfar91) May 8, 2017

I'm so friggin' pissed at these flabby jowly old men mansplaining to & interrupting a woman 100x their superior. #SallyYates — Melissa Jo Peltier (@MelissaJPeltier) May 8, 2017

I'm enjoying watching a poised, professional woman rhetorically eviscerate paltry attempts (by grumpy old men) to outsmart her. #SallyYates — Chris Gazzara (@ChrisGazzara) May 8, 2017

Omg Sally Yates just handed Ted Cruz his ass on a platter. This is the best thing I've ever seen — Natalie Morales (@nataliemorales) May 8, 2017

That burn Ted Cruz got from Sally Yates will forever be a pre-existing condition. — shauna (@goldengateblond) May 8, 2017

#SallyYates is clearly the smartest person in the room. Which says a lot about Congress and its treatment of women. pic.twitter.com/9HWU1vy2CQ — Spam 4 Trump (@Spam4Trump) May 8, 2017