Senator Ted Cruz faces a flurry of ridicule on Twitter after saying that “the United States does not leave the Americans behind,” reminding many observers of his ill-timed trip to Cancun.
On Monday, Cruz posted an excerpt from a CNN story about a Texas family left behind in Afghanistan after the latest round of evacuations. The last US troops in the country left this week, although hundreds of US citizens remained, although the Biden administration has said it will continue to work to get them out.
The senator was outraged.
“This is horrible. And a mistake, ”Cruz tweeted. “The United States does not leave the Americans behind.”
Unfortunately for the senator, watchers on Twitter seemed to have a good memory.
“Sir … You went to Cancun,” wrote one simply.
“Uh … a Texan here,” commented another. “Pretty sure you left us behind during a crisis.”
Others were more explicit.
Read more: Pentagon leaders speak of “pain and anger” in post-Afghanistan service members
“YOU LITERALLY LET YOUR ENTIRE STATE FREEZE IN A POWER OUTAGE TO BE ABLE TO GO TO A RITZ CARLTON IN MEXICO,” wrote a Twitter user shouting in capital letters. “AND THEN YOU LIED AND TRIED TO BLAME YOUR DAUGHTERS WHEN YOU WERE CAUGHT.”
In February of this year, as millions of Texans were without power and hundreds of people died during a strange winter storm, Cruz infamously went on vacation with his family to Cancun, Mexico. After a fierce public outcry, the Texas Republican returned to his state, and appeared to blame his daughters for the trip.
“With school canceled for the week, our daughters asked to take a trip with friends,” Cruz said at the time. “Wanting to be a good father, I flew with them last night and will be back this afternoon.”
As the senator speaks out on the Afghanistan crisis, many observers seem unwilling to put that incident aside.
“Since when do you care about Americans, or anyone trying to cross a border to safety?” Commented one Twitter user.
Others posted photos of Cruz dragging his suitcase across an airport floor during his frustrated trip to Cancun.
“Is that you?” Asked one.
“Dude … NOBODY forgot how you left Texans behind to go to Cancun, so maybe you should keep quiet this time,” commented another.
The Independent has contacted Senator Cruz’s office for comment, but has not yet received a response.
–
