US Edition‘Fled Cruz?’ Viral image fuels claims that Sen. Ted Cruz left Texas ahead of upcoming arctic blast
- On January 20, 2026, Senator Ted Cruz was photographed boarding a flight to Laguna Beach as Texas braced for a rare ice threat and arctic cold front.
- Cruz's office said the travel was pre-planned work-related weeks in advance and Cruz posted on X that his team was monitoring the incoming cold front for snow and ice later this week.
- A passenger photo and flight records corroborate the sighting, showing a United Airlines flight from Houston to John Wayne Airport landing at 11:21 a.m. on Jan. 20.
- The sighting reignited criticism tied to Cruz's 2021 Cancun trip during Winter Storm Uri, which left more than 4.5 million homes without power and killed at least 246 people, prompting critics and social media users to compare the photo and renew mockery referencing Cristian Pineda.
- The Weather Prediction Center warns of heavy snow, sleet and freezing rain from Friday onwards, the National Weather Service gives San Antonio an 18% chance of freezing rain early Saturday through Sunday, and Gov. Greg Abbott activated the Texas Division of Emergency Management.
27 Articles
27 Articles
Why Texans are upset about a new Ted Cruz photo
AUSTIN, Texas — U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz is responding after a photo of him aboard a plane to California was posted online while Texans prepares for a winter storm. The image showed him on a flight as weather forecasters warned of snow, ice and dangerous cold in the state.
Houston Public Media
KUTTed Cruz is traveling out of Texas days before a winter storm is expected to hit
A photo appearing to depict the Republican Senator on a plane went viral on social media, after Cruz famously left Texas for Cancún during 2021's deadly winter storm. A spokesperson for Cruz said Wednesday he "will be back in Texas before the storm is projected to hit."
‘Fled Cruz?’ Viral image fuels claims that Sen. Ted Cruz left Texas ahead of upcoming arctic blast
As Texas braces for another round of severe winter weather, a viral social media post has reignited scrutiny of one of the state’s most prominent political figures.
Coverage Details
Bias Distribution
- 71% of the sources are Center
Factuality
To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium
