Where In The World Is Sen. Cruz As Texas Weathers Disaster? Twitter Sleuths Say: Cancún

As Texas endures one of the worst disasters in its modern history, pictures circulating online appear to show the state’s junior senator taking a trip to a sunnier locale.

Twitter sleuths and political operatives began flagging the photos Wednesday night, which show Cruz at Houston’s Bush Intercontinental Airport and, later, on a plane purportedly headed to Cancún. 

TPM has not confirmed the senator’s whereabouts. Cruz’s office did not respond to a mounting number of requests for comment from TPM and other outlets. 

Nonetheless, the photos appear to show a man with a striking resemblance to Cruz, and perhaps his wife Heidi as well. Fox News reported Thursday that an unnamed Republican source had confirmed Cruz’s travel to Cancún.

If Cruz were in fact on his way out of the country yesterday, his timing could not have been worse.

Days of freezing temperatures have caused millions to lose power. Boil-water advisories are now common throughout Texas as pipes burst from the cold, flooding buildings. The state’s food supply chain is encountering disruptions the likes of which “we’ve never seen before,” Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller said earlier this week. 

A lack of preparation for Texas’ deregulated, disconnected, natural-gas based electric grid appears to be the root of the problem. The weather has reportedly resulted in 16 deaths in the state.

As Cruz scurried beachside, his political opposites in Texas were scrambling to address the massive failures of infrastructure that have spread all across the state. Beto O’Rourke, the Democratic former congressman and presidential candidate, wrote online around midnight that volunteers under his command had made 151,000 welfare calls to Texas seniors.

As likely evidence of Cruz’s tropical vacation spread online Thursday morning, Punchbowl News’ Jake Sherman reported on the senator’s hasty retreat: An “R. Cru” on the standby list for a business class seat back to Houston.

Even the senator’s mask appears to match one he’s worn before, featuring the “Come and Take It” flag:

WASHINGTON, DC – FEBRUARY 13: Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX), wears a protective mask while departing the U.S. Capitol on February 13, 2021 in Washington, DC. The Senate voted 57-43 to acquit Trump of the charges of inciting the January 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol. (Photo by Stefani Reynolds – Pool/Getty Images)