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| Texas Senator Ted Cruz flew to Cancun, Mexico, amid state energy crisis | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Senator Ted Cruz takes questions at the Cancun airport on 18 February | Senator Ted Cruz takes questions at the Cancun airport on 18 February |
| Texas Senator Ted Cruz flew to Mexico with his family for a holiday amid a winter weather crisis that has left millions in his state without power. | Texas Senator Ted Cruz flew to Mexico with his family for a holiday amid a winter weather crisis that has left millions in his state without power. |
| Mr Cruz said on Thursday he planned the trip for his daughters, "wanting to be a good dad", but that he had returned because it "didn't feel right". | Mr Cruz said on Thursday he planned the trip for his daughters, "wanting to be a good dad", but that he had returned because it "didn't feel right". |
| Photos of the Republican lawmaker at an airport on Wednesday fuelled reports he had left Texas amid the energy crisis. | Photos of the Republican lawmaker at an airport on Wednesday fuelled reports he had left Texas amid the energy crisis. |
| Texas has seen power and water outages due to the uncommonly freezing weather. | Texas has seen power and water outages due to the uncommonly freezing weather. |
| The high-profile Republican has drawn quick criticism for taking an international trip amid the weather emergency in his state. | The high-profile Republican has drawn quick criticism for taking an international trip amid the weather emergency in his state. |
| Texas residents told to boil water in winter storm | Texas residents told to boil water in winter storm |
| Senator Ted Cruz on Donald Trump: Then and now | Senator Ted Cruz on Donald Trump: Then and now |
| The moment the crowd turned on Ted Cruz | The moment the crowd turned on Ted Cruz |
| "People in Texas are literally freezing to death and yet Ted Cruz went on vacation to Cancun," wrote Democratic Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal on Twitter. | "People in Texas are literally freezing to death and yet Ted Cruz went on vacation to Cancun," wrote Democratic Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal on Twitter. |
| How has Cruz defended his trip? | How has Cruz defended his trip? |
| In a written statement released on Thursday afternoon, Mr Cruz said that with schools closed in the state, he had booked the vacation for his young daughters who "asked to take a trip with friends". | In a written statement released on Thursday afternoon, Mr Cruz said that with schools closed in the state, he had booked the vacation for his young daughters who "asked to take a trip with friends". |
| The senator said he and his staff were "in constant communication with state and local leaders to get to the bottom of what happened in Texas". | The senator said he and his staff were "in constant communication with state and local leaders to get to the bottom of what happened in Texas". |
| Mr Cruz did not apologise for making the trip amid the state of emergency in Texas, but in a later interview with broadcaster ABC13, he said it was "a mistake". | Mr Cruz did not apologise for making the trip amid the state of emergency in Texas, but in a later interview with broadcaster ABC13, he said it was "a mistake". |
| "In hindsight, if I had understood how it would be perceived, the reaction people would have, obviously I wouldn't have done it," he said, adding that he had had "second thoughts as soon as we left" and understood why people were "upset". | "In hindsight, if I had understood how it would be perceived, the reaction people would have, obviously I wouldn't have done it," he said, adding that he had had "second thoughts as soon as we left" and understood why people were "upset". |
| "Leaving when so many Texans were hurting didn't feel right, and so I changed my return flight and flew back on the first available flight I could take," he said. | "Leaving when so many Texans were hurting didn't feel right, and so I changed my return flight and flew back on the first available flight I could take," he said. |
| Mr Cruz returned to Texas on Thursday | Mr Cruz returned to Texas on Thursday |
| The Republican has now returned to Houston. | The Republican has now returned to Houston. |
| As a federal lawmaker, Mr Cruz does not have a direct role in Texas' emergency response, but residents often reach out to their elected officials - like Mr Cruz - during natural disasters for help accessing resources. | As a federal lawmaker, Mr Cruz does not have a direct role in Texas' emergency response, but residents often reach out to their elected officials - like Mr Cruz - during natural disasters for help accessing resources. |
| What's the reaction been? | What's the reaction been? |
| The senator's travel plans amid the crisis in Texas drew immediate criticism online. | The senator's travel plans amid the crisis in Texas drew immediate criticism online. |
| "Ted Cruz not only fled the state while millions of vulnerable Texans are without heat and water but specifically diverted police resources to get him through security and crowds faster for his outgoing vacation flight," wrote progressive rights activist Charlotte Clymer on Twitter. | "Ted Cruz not only fled the state while millions of vulnerable Texans are without heat and water but specifically diverted police resources to get him through security and crowds faster for his outgoing vacation flight," wrote progressive rights activist Charlotte Clymer on Twitter. |
| Just confirmed @SenTedCruz and his family flew to Cancun tonight for a few days at a resort they've visited before. Cruz seems to believe there isn't much for him to do in Texas for the millions of fellow Texans who remain without electricity/water and are literally freezing. pic.twitter.com/6nPiVWtdxe | Just confirmed @SenTedCruz and his family flew to Cancun tonight for a few days at a resort they've visited before. Cruz seems to believe there isn't much for him to do in Texas for the millions of fellow Texans who remain without electricity/water and are literally freezing. pic.twitter.com/6nPiVWtdxe |
| Some criticised Mr Cruz for appearing to use his daughters to deflect blame. | Some criticised Mr Cruz for appearing to use his daughters to deflect blame. |
| "I relate to Ted Cruz because my kids have also asked tough questions of me lately like, 'what happens if we run out of food and water,'" journalist Leah Binkovitz wrote on Twitter. | "I relate to Ted Cruz because my kids have also asked tough questions of me lately like, 'what happens if we run out of food and water,'" journalist Leah Binkovitz wrote on Twitter. |
| Ted Cruz to his kids: pic.twitter.com/yPJzjT7wYl | Ted Cruz to his kids: pic.twitter.com/yPJzjT7wYl |
| Others suggested the added scrutiny may hurt Mr Cruz as he reportedly contemplates a second presidential bid in 2024. The lawmaker's current Senate term will expire in early 2025. | Others suggested the added scrutiny may hurt Mr Cruz as he reportedly contemplates a second presidential bid in 2024. The lawmaker's current Senate term will expire in early 2025. |
| But some conservatives came to Mr Cruz's defence - author and activist Brigitte Gabriel wrote: "Senator Ted Cruz is one of the hardest working men in the country, he deserves a vacation." | But some conservatives came to Mr Cruz's defence - author and activist Brigitte Gabriel wrote: "Senator Ted Cruz is one of the hardest working men in the country, he deserves a vacation." |
| What's the situation in Texas? | What's the situation in Texas? |
| The news comes as hundreds of thousands of Mr Cruz's fellow Texans woke up to a fourth day without power, after extreme winter weather overwhelmed the state's energy grid. | The news comes as hundreds of thousands of Mr Cruz's fellow Texans woke up to a fourth day without power, after extreme winter weather overwhelmed the state's energy grid. |
| At least 24 people have died amid the winter storms. Outages are expected to continue for days. | At least 24 people have died amid the winter storms. Outages are expected to continue for days. |
| Texas officials have also ordered seven million people in the state to boil tap water before consuming it due to damaged infrastructure and pipes. | Texas officials have also ordered seven million people in the state to boil tap water before consuming it due to damaged infrastructure and pipes. |
| Texas weather: ‘We’re on day three of no power' | Texas weather: ‘We’re on day three of no power' |
| And with the sustained frigid temperatures, frozen pipes have caused a drop in water pressure in homes and hospitals. Governor Greg Abbott has now asked residents to shut off water to their home if possible to help keep pressure up. | And with the sustained frigid temperatures, frozen pipes have caused a drop in water pressure in homes and hospitals. Governor Greg Abbott has now asked residents to shut off water to their home if possible to help keep pressure up. |
| Mr Cruz had been active on Twitter in recent days, sharing updates about power in the state. | Mr Cruz had been active on Twitter in recent days, sharing updates about power in the state. |
| In his Thursday statement, Mr Cruz said that his family had also lost heat and power, just like other Texans. | In his Thursday statement, Mr Cruz said that his family had also lost heat and power, just like other Texans. |
| "The greatest state in the greatest country in the world has been without power," he said. | "The greatest state in the greatest country in the world has been without power," he said. |