Fresh off a trip to a Mexican beach resort, Texas Senator Ted Cruz seemed keen to show that he was helping others during the statewide emergency he temporarily left behind this week.
Republican lawmakers have come under fire for its decision to fly to Cancún when a winter storm – and a cracking power grid – left millions of people without electricity and later without drinking water across the state.
Two days after admitting his “mistake” and flying home, new photos of Cruz were posted to his official Twitter account.
In it, Cruz – with sleeves rolled up and a Texas flag face – handed out bottles of water to people in need. The photos were captioned “#TexasStrong.”
But some commentators who suggested Cruz’s gesture seemed somewhat hollow.
Writer Melissa Ryan, a former digital strategist for Democratic campaigns, accused Cruz of showing “ fake compassion. ”
“I’m glad someone in the Senate office of Ted Cruz has finally taught him how to fake compassion and humanity and create the illusion that he cares about the people he has been chosen for,” she wrote.
I’m glad someone in Ted Cruz’s Senate office has finally instructed him on how to fake compassion and humanity and create the illusion that he cares about the people he has been chosen for. https://t.co/6JuuzUzpf2
– Melissa Ryan (@MelissaRyan) February 21, 2021
Lawyer Bradley Moss suggested that Cruz would rather be in Cancun.
CNN analyst Jessica Huseman listed official guidelines for returning from a trip abroad. “Stay home and quarantine yourself for a full 7 days after the trip,” advises the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
While TV personality Keith Olbermann joked, “I assume you’re using these waters.”
Democrats were also keen to promote their own efforts through social media.
Beto O’Rourke, who narrowly lost to Cruz in their 2018 Senate race, helped organize emergency supplies and check in with residents.
Others, like New York representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, tweet about their fundraising efforts.
“Charity is not a substitute for good governance,” AOC tweeted earlier this week. “But we will not shy away from helping those in need when things go wrong.”
Cruz said on Friday that the trip to Mexico was “clearly a mistake,” and that he was accompanying his daughters on vacation with their friends.
In a later sympathetic interview with Fox News’ HannityCruz was later asked about the “quick drop-off trip” to Mexico.
I initially planned to stay over the weekend and work remotely there, ”Cruz said.
“But as I went there, you know, I started to have reservations almost immediately because the crisis here in Texas, you have to be on the scene.
“And as much as you can do on the phone and Zoom, it’s not the same as being here.”
Power has been restored to most of the Texas homes affected by the power outage, but nearly half of the state’s population is still under boiling water.
MEGA / GC images