Texas Floods Kill 105 Including Campers as Cruz Criticized for Greece Vacation

Texas Senator Ted Cruz faced renewed criticism for vacationing in Greece amid deadly flooding in Texas, which claimed over 100 lives, including children at Camp Mystic. Cruz was spotted sightseeing at the Parthenon on July 5, more than 24 hours after floodwaters breached the Guadalupe River, while rescue efforts were underway in Texas. Cruz’s communications director strongly denied reports that he was neglecting his duties, stating he returned to Texas as quickly as possible and criticizing media outlets for their coverage. Cruz was on the ground in Texas from July 7 and participated in briefings on the disaster. This controversy echoes a similar incident in 2021 when Cruz vacationed in Cancún during a severe winter storm in Texas. The senator acknowledged the failure in warning systems that contributed to the tragedy at Camp Mystic and called for improvements to prevent future incidents.