Sen. Ted Cruz Returns to Texas After Deadly Floods Amid Vacation Criticism

Senator Ted Cruz was on a pre-planned family vacation in Greece when devastating floods struck central Texas, killing over 100 people, including 27 girls and counselors at a summer camp. Despite available flights and access to private jets, Cruz only returned to Texas late Sunday night, a day and a half after the disaster's severity became known, after being spotted touring the Parthenon in Athens on Saturday. Cruz's office stated he worked closely with federal and state officials, including President Donald Trump and Governor Greg Abbott, while abroad and booked his flight back as quickly as possible. The timing of his return sparked criticism and social media backlash, recalling his 2021 Cancun trip during a deadly Texas winter storm, which he called “obviously a mistake.” An eyewitness reported Cruz was dismissive when confronted about his vacation amid the crisis. Cruz appeared on the ground in Texas Monday morning and expressed grief over the disaster, but the episode raised questions about the senator's responsiveness during emergencies.