Cruz Reveals He ‘Initially Planned’ To Stay in Cancun ‘Through the Weekend’

Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) found himself under fire after photos circulated on social media about his travel to Cancun, Mexico, as his state was facing a power crisis amid severe winter weather.

Cruz later defended himself following the reports, saying he was “wanting to be a good dad” so he flew his daughters down to Cancun because they had a week off of school and “asked to take a trip with friends.”

The senator continued to defend his family’s vacation during an interview on Fox News’ “Hannity” Thursday evening.

Cruz explained:

“Heidi and me, we lost power for two days. Our house was dark. We had no heat…We were all huddled around the fireplace because it was the only heat in the house, and after a couple of days after the girls being really cold and the being in the teens or the 20s outside, our girls said ‘Look, school has been canceled for the week. Can we take a trip and go somewhere warm?’ And Heidi and I, as parents, we said ‘OK, sure.'”

He later added, “Last night I flew down with them to the beach and then I flew back this afternoon. I had initially planned to stay through the weekend and to work remotely there.”

“But, as I was heading down there, you know, I started to have second thoughts almost immediately because the crisis here in Texas, you need to be here on the ground. And as much as you can do by phone and Zoom, it’s not the same as being here,” Cruz continued.