After Republican Senator Ted Cruz of Texas apologized for sneaking off to Cancun in the midst of his state's winter storm emergency, Republican Congressman Matt Gaetz of Florida surprised many with a shocking opinion on Twitter.
Ted Cruz should not have apologized.— Matt Gaetz (@Matt Gaetz) 1613716074.0
Gaetz apparently thought Cruz should not have apologized for leaving the state for a Mexican vacation at the very moment many Texans were struggling through a crisis.
Many on Twitter agreed, saying Cruz should instead resign.
I agree. @TedCruz should resign. https://t.co/DAraottr5d— Alexandra Halaby 🌹 (@Alexandra Halaby 🌹) 1613716642.0
Someone is a little jealous of Cruz’s surge in the biggest-jerk-in-Congress derby. https://t.co/wjx5R9nhiq— Kim Masters (@Kim Masters) 1613717752.0
The internet wondered what Gaetz's logic for his statement could possibly be.
America, you, seriously, have to start picking better humans to govern. https://t.co/JIzPCqBgIq— Don Champion (@Don Champion) 1613716740.0
Real Men™ abdicate their duty in a time of crisis, throw their children under the bus to sell a lazy lie, and then… https://t.co/7TBSUOiKZe— Max Steele (@Max Steele) 1613716649.0
Ted Cruz should have resigned instead. https://t.co/k6DNrf3akU— David Weissman (@David Weissman) 1613716166.0
When it comes to national reputation, Gaetz and Cruz are among America's least popular.
Just going out on a limb here, but thinking some of his constituents may disagree https://t.co/ltgRNLf3q9— Evan Rosenfeld (@Evan Rosenfeld) 1613717282.0
@mattgaetz @RepAOC is raising money and helping @tedcruz constituents because he won't. @BetoORourke is helping C… https://t.co/1UdbSWvVFO— Cheri Jacobus (@Cheri Jacobus) 1613750207.0
@mattgaetz Awe. Bless your heart. See honey boo boo. These are leaders. These are public servants. https://t.co/8L4DkgtZH2— Kat Harris (@Kat Harris) 1613749976.0
Cruz's flight to Cancun and Gaetz's support of it served as a direct contrast to the actions taken by Democrats like Beto O'Rourke and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez who both dedicatedtime and resources to helping Texans.
@mattgaetz You should not have tweeted.— Exploding Space Pillow Singh, MD 🌊 (@Exploding Space Pillow Singh, MD 🌊) 1613716440.0
@mattgaetz Spoken like a guy who brought a Holocaust denier to the State of the Union.— Sleeping Giants (@Sleeping Giants) 1613717238.0
@mattgaetz Dude actually took first responders away from helping people freezing in their homes to get a police esc… https://t.co/zKad6lgVVk— Jedi, Interrupted 🏳️🌈 (@Jedi, Interrupted 🏳️🌈) 1613727886.0
Many were unsurprised to hear Matt Gaetz didn't understand Cruz's responsibilities as a public servant.
@mattgaetz Huh? His first responsibility is to the people of Texas. He let them down big time. of course though you do not get that.— marybl (@marybl) 1613741242.0
@mattgaetz We already know you have no ethics— Thor Benson (@Thor Benson) 1613716684.0
Ted Cruz's first responsibility is to the people of Texas who reelected him in 2018. When they needed him most, he was on his way to Cancun.
If Matt Gaetz doesn't understand why that's worth apologizing for, then his future as a politician isn't looking great.