Earlier this year, devastating winter storms decimated Texas' independent power grid, leaving millions without gas or electricity and few ways to safely retrieve provisions without navigating icy roads. More than 100 people died before the ordeal was over.
Republican Senator Ted Cruz of Texas was one of those millions left without power, but while most were forced to brave the winter indoors, Cruz—family in tow—escaped to sunny Cancún, Mexico.
Footage soon circulated of Cruz on the flight, prompting widespread backlash against the Senator for abandoning his constituents during a statewide crisis. For his part, Cruz claimed he'd only intended to stay for one night after escorting his family to their five star hotel.
Cruz later admitted that going to the resort as millions of Texans were powerless was a "mistake."
Now, the likely 2024 Republican presidential candidate is trying to turn the scandal into a laughing matter, posting a jocular tweet about low air travel prices to his infamous onetime destination.
Awesome!https://twitter.com/abc13houston/status/1394684245281542146\u00a0\u2026— Ted Cruz (@Ted Cruz) 1621359857
People were not amused.
Hey, Texans, let's make sure we NEVER forget what a low life POS this is. I know I won't. #election #timeisticking #votebluehttps://twitter.com/tedcruz/status/1394710444179431429\u00a0\u2026— ATXMomster (@ATXMomster) 1621430604
An Unserious Officialhttps://twitter.com/tedcruz/status/1394710444179431429\u00a0\u2026— Dre Horizon (@Dre Horizon) 1621386947
Maybe wait 'til the next natural disaster, you pig.https://twitter.com/tedcruz/status/1394710444179431429\u00a0\u2026— inwoodguy (@inwoodguy) 1621373903
You\u2019re complete trash and I can no longer be surprised by any new depth you reach.https://twitter.com/tedcruz/status/1394710444179431429\u00a0\u2026— Hoodie Reid (@Hoodie Reid) 1621373594
Read the room https://twitter.com/tedcruz/status/1394710444179431429\u00a0\u2026— Ron Boster (@Ron Boster) 1621372436
This dude is laughing at the Texans who died during the freeze. #FireTedCruzhttps://twitter.com/tedcruz/status/1394710444179431429\u00a0\u2026— Dr. Ginny McDonald (@Dr. Ginny McDonald) 1621374393
This isn't the first time Cruz has tried to turn the scandal into a laughing matter though.
Weeks after the incident, Cruz delivered a speech at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC)—a speech that critics said resembled a failed comedian's set more than the address of a potential presidential candidate.
Cruz alluded to the Cancún debacle during the speech, quipping:
"God bless CPAC. I got to say Orlando is awesome. It's not as nice as Cancun, but it's nice."
No one is laughing.
How utterly self absorbed do you have to be....?\n\nDeplorable indeedhttps://twitter.com/tedcruz/status/1394710444179431429\u00a0\u2026— UnfetteredMind (@UnfetteredMind) 1621373726
Do you somehow think this is funny? Have you ever considered that you might at least PRETEND to do your job--you know, the job that you get paid way more than most Americans for, yet all you do is mean-tweet, sleep, and skip out on problems.https://twitter.com/tedcruz/status/1394710444179431429\u00a0\u2026— Kathryn Griffin (@Kathryn Griffin) 1621368550
This disgrace leaves during a crisis and thinks this is cute?! Absolutely disgusting.https://twitter.com/tedcruz/status/1394710444179431429\u00a0\u2026— Kaye R (@Kaye R) 1621395872
Not a good look.
@DonaldJTrumpJr/X
@DogRightGirl/X