Even Texas Republican Party chair Allen West on Thursday would not go out of his way to defend Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) amid the Trump loyalist facing backlash for fleeing to Cancun as his state reels from an energy crisis that has caused millions to lose power in freezing weather.
On Wednesday night, Twitter sleuths and political operatives began flagging photos of Cruz at Houston’s Bush Intercontinental Airport and, later, on a plane purportedly headed to Cancún. Fox News and the Associated Press subsequently confirmed Cruz’s travels.
Asked about Cruz’s travels to Mexico amid of one of the worst disasters Texas has faced in modern history, state Republican Party Chairman Allen West appeared to want no part in condoning Cruz’s actions.
“That’s something that he has to answer to his constituents about,” West told the Associated Press when asked whether Cruz’s travel was appropriate.
West added that like many other Texas, he is simply trying to survive along with hundreds of thousands of people in Texas going on a fourth day without power amid winter storms.
“I’m here trying to take care of my family and look after my friends and others that are still without power,” West said. “That’s my focus.”
After hours of evading the controversy he prompted while many Texans continue to struggle without power or safe drinking water, Cruz finally addressed the backlash over his Cancun trip in a statement issued Thursday afternoon — by blaming his kids for the fiasco.
“With school cancelled for the week, our girls asked to take a trip with friends. Wanting to be a good dad. I flew down with them last night and am flying back this afternoon,” Cruz said. “My staff and I are in constant communication with state and local leaders to get to the bottom of what happened in Texas.”
