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By Andrew Stanton and Gabe Whisnant
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Texas Senator Ted Cruz's communications director, Macarena Martinez, blasted The Daily Beast on Monday for its reporting that the senator was on vacation when his home state was hit with deadly flash flooding over the weekend.
The outlet reported on Monday that while rescue teams searched for survivors in floodwaters in Central Texas, Cruz remained in Greece and continued sightseeing.
In response, Martinez posted on X, formerly Twitter, "A bull**** piece published by a bull**** rag outlet with no credibility, and with no regard for the tragedy in Texas. The Senator is on the ground in Texas and arrived as fast as humanly possible. I explained all of this to their two-faced reporter."
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In a statement to Newsweek*,* Cruz's office said he was "already in the middle of preplanned family vacation travel overseas when the flooding occurred on July 4."
"Within hours, he spoke by phone with Governor Abbott, Lt. Governor Patrick, Texas Emergency Management Director Nim Kidd, and President Trump, working to ensure that the maximum federal assets were available for search and rescue. He and his team worked closely with local officials and with families of missing girls throughout that time," the statement said.
"He promptly booked a flight back home. Given the time difference, he left Athens on Sunday morning and was back in Texas that night. And he was in Kerrville on the ground early Monday morning."
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The Context
The Daily Beast article quickly spread across social media, where Cruz faced criticism over the trip. Others noted that there was no way he could have predicted the flooding.
At least 94 people are dead and dozens more are injured after the flooding that began after the Guadalupe River surged more than 20 feet early on June 4. Camp Mystic, an all-girls camp in Kerr County, has confirmed that at least 27 campers and counselors died during the flooding.
In 2021, Cruz faced backlash for visiting Cancun during a storm that left many Texans without power. Other politicians have similarly faced criticisms for not being in town during an emergency. Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass faced backlash over being in Ghana during devastating wildfires earlier this year.
What To Know
The article published by The Daily Beast said that Cruz was spotted at the Parthenon in Athens on Saturday at about 6 p.m. local time, which would be roughly 10 a.m. CST—about one day after the flooding began. The article was based on an eyewitness and a photograph appearing to show Cruz in Greece.
By Monday morning, he had returned to Texas and was in Kerrville.
The senator released a statement about the flooding on Friday.
"Please pray right now for everyone in the Hill Country, especially Camp Mystic. Today, I've spoken with Gov Abbott, Lt. Gov Patrick, the head of TDEM & President Trump," Cruz wrote on X, formerly Twitter. "Multiple helicopters are performing search & rescue. President Trump committed ANYTHING Texas needs."
The National Weather Service issued a warning about the potential for flooding at 1:18 CST on Thursday. A flash flood warning for Kerr County was issued at 1:14 a.m. on Friday. A flash flood emergency was declared at 4:03 a.m.
What People Are Saying
Darin Miller, who previously served as Cruz's communications director, on X: "Over and over again, when disaster struck in Texas, Ted Cruz was on the ground immediately after, helping with cleanup, comforting families, working with local officials. Still waiting on the Daily Beast story about those."
Harry Sisson, a liberal social media influencer, on X: "Wow. Ted Cruz was VACATIONING IN EUROPE when the devastating Texas floods hit, per the Daily Beast. First, Cruz fled to Cancun when Texas was freezing. Now, he's off in Europe as rescue crews were trying to save people. Texas, FIRE THIS MAN!!"
What Happens Next
The National Weather Service has issued a new flood watch warning through 7 p.m. Monday for the Hill Country and I-35 corridor.
Update 7/7/25, 5:01 p.m. ET: This article was updated with additional information.
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