Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) is facing fierce criticism over the suggestion he has flown to Cancun in Mexico while his home state of Texas suffers blackouts after a winter storm hit the over the weekend.
The state has been left in crisis, with power and water supplies impacted. There have been reports of people dying in attempts to keep warm.
Photos which it has been alleged show the lawmaker on a plane heading to Cancun have gone viral.
Cruz's office has not publicly commented on the photos and has not confirmed whether he has traveled to or is in Cancun. Newsweek has not independently verified whether this is the case and has sought clarification from the senator's team.
The Associated Press reported that an anonymous source confirmed that Cruz had travelled to Cancun.
While Cruz and his staff have remained silent on the claims, the prospect of such a trip has prompted a major backlash.
Cancun and Cruz have both trended on Twitter as people react to the viral photos.
The Texas Democratic Party shared a tweet telling Cruz to resign with the hashtag "#TedCruzRESIGN," after earlier tweeting this in response to one of the photos said to be of Cruz and writing: "Texans are dying and you're on a flight to Cancun."
In a further statement, shared to Newsweek, Texas Democratic Party Chair Gilberto Hinojosa said the situation was "deeply disturbing and disappointing."
"Cruz is emblematic of what the Texas Republican Party and its leaders have become: weak, corrupt, inept, and self-serving politicians who don't give a damn about the people they were elected to represent. They were elected by the people but have no interest or intent of doing their jobs," Hinojosa said, calling again on Cruz to resign.
Jaime Harrison, chairman of the Democratic National Committee, tweeted: "Texas, you deserve so much better!"
He did this alongside a photo said to be of Cruz aboard a plane and alongside the hashtag "#CancunCruz."
Rep. Ihan Omar (D-MN) questioned Cruz's alleged actions, referring to how she reacted to difficulties faced by people in her state previously.
"After the George Floyd uprisings in Minneapolis, when thousands were struggling to find food, my office and I held food drives and donated more than 20 tons of food to the community," Omar tweeted. "Meanwhile, as millions of Texans lack power, heat, and food,@tedcruz heads off to Cancun. Hm."
Scott Dworkin, co-founder of campaign group the Democratic Coalition, said in a tweet Cruz "doesn't care about Texans."
In further comments shared to Newsweek, Dworkin added: "Ted Cruz is the definition of America last. Cruz should write his resignation letter on his plane ticket to Cancun."
He said that as a senator Cruz is "able to move mountains," criticizing him for the alleged trip instead of "shoveling snow or getting help for Texans from across America."
Tim Miller, writer-at-large for The Bulwark and formerly of Republican Voters Against Trump, referred to Cruz's questioning of the presidential election results in criticizing him.
Miller tweeted: "Maybe @tedcruz is fleeing the country to start the MAGA government in exile since his attempt to steal the election didn't work? (You do remember he tried to help steal an election a few weeks ago right?)"
The criticism over the alleged Cancun trips comes with Cruz having already been under fire over his position in questioning election integrity following Donald Trump's presidential election defeat.
He has been urged to resign by some adversaries following the violence of January 6. There have also been calls for him to be censured.
Cruz has condemned the violence at the Capitol and defended his stance regarding questioning election integrity.
Newsweek has asked Cruz's office for any response to the criticism alongside requesting clarification on whether the senator did fly to Cancun.
