Ted Cruz Faces Backlash For Traveling To Cancun While Millions Freeze

Texas Sen. Ted Cruz is being roundly slammed on social media by Texans and non-Texans alike after it became public that he traveled to sunny Cancun on Wednesday as millions in Texas remained without power and heat for a fifth day.

Sen. Cruz on Thursday confirmed he flew to Mexico with family members Wednesday evening, responding to the growing backlash for the first time in a statement to the Hill, adding that he had accompanied his daughters on a flight to Mexico since they had the week off with school canceled.

“Wanting to be a good dad,” Cruz said, he decided to fly “with them last night and am flying back this afternoon.”

“This has been an infuriating week for Texans,” he said, adding “the greatest state in the greatest country in the world has been without power. We have food lines, gas lines, and people sleeping at the neighbors’ houses. Our homes are freezing and our lights are out.”

The senator, who infamously held out as Trump’s last primary opponent back in 2016, added that he and his family had lost power “like millions of Texans.”

“Like millions of Texans, our family lost heat and power too,” he added.

“My staff and I are in constant communication with state and local leaders to get to the bottom of what happened in Texas,” he continued.

“We want our power back, our water on, and our homes warm. My team and I will continue using all our resources to keep Texans informed and safe.”

According to flight records, Cruz (the Senator, at the very least, without his family) traveling back to Texas on Thursday to deal with the fallout of their trip – which has turned into a PR disaster – potentially without power and clean water.

And just like that, Ted (Rafael) Cruz seems to be on his way back to Texas.

“CRU, R.” is on the upgrade list on this afternoon’s flight from Cancun to Houston. He was on the list on yesterday afternoon’s flight down to Cancun, too. pic.twitter.com/4SJano1zb3

— Kyle Potter (@kpottermn) February 18, 2021

A photo of Cruz circulated on the Internet Wednesday showing him at an airport with a massive carry-on bag.

Then Fox News and the AP managed to confirm the story, though the senator has been silent about the issue until now.

I don’t understand how/why i see people defending the actions of an elected official taking a trip out country while his people struggling with no power/water. Mind boggling

— KM🏌🏾‍♂️ (@TheGOATjr) February 18, 2021

@tedcruz Did you have a nice few hours in Cancun while millions froze without electricity, water, or any connection to the outside world back home?

— bro we are sitting (@Nautilloyd) February 18, 2021

You should have said .. “Jill and I are doing the opposite of Senator Ted Cruz and …” https://t.co/4D1gwlblja

— DavidT (@dtfogg) February 18, 2021

Many lashed out on social media after the first reports about Cruz’s trip emerged, while also attacking him about earlier tweets attacking California and its power grid.

Cruz conceded Tuesday that he had “no defense” for these earlier tweets, adding, “A blizzard strikes Texas & our state shuts down. Not good.”

Nearly three dozen Texans have died due to the outages and the freezing weather conditions.