Texas Senator Ted Cruz has managed to land himself in a spot of bother after taking an ill-advised trip to Mexico while those left at home in the Lone Star State have been left to struggle amid one of the worst winter storms on record.
With millions of Texans currently without electricity and water as numerous generators failed across the state decided it was best for him to leave as his house was reportedly “freezing” and a retreat to a luxury resort in Cancun was definitely a warmer option.
Cruz was spotted on a plane to Mexico on Wednesday and criticism for the Republican rapidly grew from there. The 50-year-old then flew back to the United States on Thursday calling the trip a “mistake” and that the intentions of the trip was “to be a good dad” as his daughters wanted to get away from the freezing conditions in their own home.
However, the backlash against Cruz for making the trip, while millions back home are suffering under the severe conditions, which has reportedly left at least 47 people dead, was strongly felt on social media.
Ted Cruz should resign from office. #CancunCruz https://t.co/wpot9d6m6k— Texas Democrats (@Texas Democrats) 1613672013
NEW VIDEO📽️: While millions of Texans are without power, Senator Ted Cruz abandoned them to take a vacation in Canc… https://t.co/djc3rCboe6— Really American 🇺🇸 (@Really American 🇺🇸) 1613703542
Going to give a hot take right now... I don't think Ted Cruz cares about the people in his state.— Chilled Chaos (@Chilled Chaos) 1613716175
Probably just testing his eyesight https://t.co/uudP1ELZtJ— Matt Murphy (@Matt Murphy) 1613691762
Cruz’s comments on climate change also conveniently resurfaced.
The irony of a hardline Republican crossing the border to Mexico to give his family a better life was not lost on some.
Anyone else realize Ted Cruz had no problem crossing a border to give his family a better life?— Rev Ted Lasso (parody) (@Rev Ted Lasso (parody)) 1613692588
Why didn’t we build the wall while Ted Cruz was in Mexico— Palmer Report (@Palmer Report) 1613722389
Of course, with any story like this Cruz found himself open to ridicule and there were plenty of memes and jokes to go around.
This is the photo that will haunt him for rest of his life... #TedCruz #CancunCruz #ResignTedCruz https://t.co/TICD82UZCZ— Gene Daniel Gray 🌐 (@Gene Daniel Gray 🌐) 1613721585
First #Perseverance images released by NASA confirms: No intelligent life in Mars #Mars2020 #TedCruz… https://t.co/mzftX3mr7D— Felipe Aka Philip Aka Hey You (@Felipe Aka Philip Aka Hey You) 1613721838
I hope he’s ok. #texas #TedCruz https://t.co/3wKan6O1hn— Dome Karukoski (@Dome Karukoski) 1613719209
wtf was this statement???? https://t.co/JSwhMJVCRi— Keaton Patti (@Keaton Patti) 1613679606
https://t.co/qdc6pFYnUX— Acyn (@Acyn) 1613631803
Cruz rushing home to get back to work retweeting The Babylon Bee.— Cody Johnston (@Cody Johnston) 1613681434
https://t.co/CFM7BU7EZQ— Ken Klippenstein (@Ken Klippenstein) 1613674492
ted cruz to america https://t.co/eUv3SeTFFi— shoe (@shoe) 1613628164
Greetings from Cancun Stay warm, Texas Your Senator, Ted Cruz https://t.co/WHnE1Sg7GE— Goddamn Glenn (@Goddamn Glenn) 1613632155
Statement from Director of Communications for Sen. Ted Cruz https://t.co/5cXIkTTZiW— blaire erskine (@blaire erskine) 1613662980
Wanting to be a good dad I may have somewhat overpacked https://t.co/8fYWPmGykS— Patrick Radden Keefe (@Patrick Radden Keefe) 1613675680
You’re never too far away from a Simpsons meme in a situation like this and there was one scene in particular which captured people’s imaginations.
Simpsons does it again https://t.co/Q1k282Eq14— Ken Klippenstein (@Ken Klippenstein) 1613662281
Hadn't seen this on the tl so… https://t.co/ptMQ0gaA8Z— David Jenkins (@David Jenkins) 1613670312
Ted Cruz making a video statement later today https://t.co/65xZcUG5bz— Declan Cashin (@Declan Cashin) 1613631505
waking up to twitter this morning like https://t.co/UAnr5iVAp7— Dave Itzkoff (@Dave Itzkoff) 1613646924
https://t.co/tsw8aE4Foa— Dave Itzkoff (@Dave Itzkoff) 1613660776
Amazingly some conservatives have attempted to defend Cruz for making the trip by suggesting that he might actually be more helpful to Texas if he wasn’t having to work in the same conditions as everyone else. This logic didn’t go down quite as intended.
Remarkable: Newsmax guest suggests Sen Ted Cruz "may have a better opportunity" to communicate and "get things do… https://t.co/jKpjcvsqQZ— Jason Campbell (@Jason Campbell) 1613670344
@DineshDSouza @tedcruz There are scores of elected officials--and private citizens like Beto O'Rourke--who are work… https://t.co/wRGWTJdlTo— Charlotte Clymer 🏳️🌈 (@Charlotte Clymer 🏳️🌈) 1613666023
More: Did Ted Cruz really board a flight to Cancun amid Texas power outage?