Texas paralyzed by cold, its senator Ted Cruz went to Cancun

Texas Senator Ted cruz stood in the eye of the hurricane Thursday after going to mexico on vacation while millions of people in his state were without electricity or water due to an unprecedented deadly cold spell.

The Republican senator left with his family by plane to Cancun Wednesday, while their constituents struggled to overcome the crisis. He returned Thursday afternoon to the avalanche of criticism against him.

The controversy began when photos showing her circulated at houston airport and on a plane to the famous tropical tourist destination, located in the Mexican Yucatan Peninsula.

Mega polar storm in the United States: 20 dead and millions without electricity

In a statement, the senator explained that due to the cancellation of schools during the week, his daughters asked him to take a trip with friends. “Wanting to be a good dad, I flew with them last night“Said Cruz.

“I am, like my team, in constant contact with local authorities to determine what happened in Texas,” he continued, referring to the power outages that affected the state. A few hours later, the senator said that “obviously it was a mistake“take this trip.

In a radio interview on Monday, Cruz warned the Texans about the severe weather disturbances expected and stressed that they could cause many victims. “Don’t take any chances. Make sure your family is safe, don’t leave your home and take care of your children,” he said.

More than 500,000 homes were still without power Thursday in Texas, where polar temperatures have led to spikes in electricity consumption.

All over the United States, the storm claimed the lives of at least 30 people. Cruz, whom Donald Trump mockingly nicknamed “Lyin ‘Ted” (“Ted the Liar”), quickly received a new nickname on Twitter: “Flyin’ Ted” (“Ted the Flying”).

Candidate during the Republican primaries at the White House in 2016, Cruz is regularly cited as a possible candidate of the “Grand Old Party” (GOP, Great Old Party) in 2024.

Cruz arrived in the Senate for the first time in 2012, and was narrowly reelected in 2018 against Beto O’Rourke, then a rising figure in the Democratic Party.

Gilberto Hinojosa, chairman of the Texas Democratic Party, asked the senator to step down.

“That Ted Cruz flies to Mexico as Texans die in the cold is not surprising, but it is deeply concerning,” he wrote, lamenting the senator “forsaking” his state.

At her daily press conference, Jen Psaki, a White House spokeswoman, was ironic when asked about the Republican senator’s getaway in the sun.

“I have no details to give you on the exact location of Ted Cruz“he replied.” We are focusing on the aging of this winter storm. “

Comedian Trevor Noah, host of the Daily Show, spoke of Cruz on Twitter in a “heartbreaking” scene: “A resident of Texas had to travel more than 2,700 kilometers to find heat, water and electricity “.