
Responding to the growing backlash over his flight to Cancun while his constituents face a statewide crisis due to an unprecedented winter storm, Texas Sen. Ted Cruz (R) released a statement suggesting that he only planned to stay for one night because he wanted to be a "good dad" to his daughters and join them on a pre-planned trip.
"With school cancelled for the week, our girls asked to take a trip with friends," the senator said. "Wanting to be a good dad, I flew down with them last night and am flying back this afternoon."
But according to reporter Edward Russell of Skift, a travel industry news source, Cruz originally planned to return to the United States on Saturday.
"Spoke to a source at United Airlines, Senator Ted Cruz rebooked his flight back to Houston from Cancun for this afternoon at around 6 a.m. today (Thursday)," Russell tweeted. "He was originally scheduled to return on Saturday."
Spoke to a source at United Airlines, Senator Ted Cruz rebooked his flight back to Houston from Cancun for this aft… https://t.co/bCX3iWyeIW— Edward Russell (@Edward Russell) 1613667748.0
Photos posted on social media also show Cruz with a moderately large rolling bag on his way back to the United States.
Sen. Ted Cruz checking in for a flight at Cancun International Airport, Feb. 18, just a day after he flew out from… https://t.co/98K4CC6Dfx— Nina Lin (@Nina Lin) 1613675666.0
Senator Ted Cruz carries his luggage at the Cancun International Airport before boarding his plane back to the U.S.… https://t.co/NHtW30aFM4— corinne_perkins (@corinne_perkins) 1613673718.0