By Trendsetter Tribune 
Senator Ted Cruz (R-Texas) was photographed on Tuesday aboard a plane reportedly heading to Laguna Beach, California, as Texas braces for a rare winter storm and Arctic cold front. The photo, shared by political strategist Shea Jordan Smith, shows Cruz standing in the busy aisle of the aircraft wearing a blue suit.
“Senator Ted Cruz was spotted earlier today on a plane heading to Laguna Beach as the state of Texas braces for a rare ice threat and arctic cold front,” Smith wrote on X.
A spokesperson for Cruz told the Daily Beast that the trip was pre-planned weeks in advance and that the senator would return to Texas before the storm hits. Cruz also posted on X, stating that his team was monitoring the incoming cold front, which could bring snow, ice, and disruptive weather conditions later in the week.
The sighting has reignited criticism over Cruz’s travel during state emergencies. He faced backlash in 2021 for vacationing in Cancun during a winter storm that left millions of Texans without power and water. Last year, he was in Greece while Texas experienced deadly flooding.
Forecasters from the National Weather Service (NWS) have issued warnings for North and Central Texas, noting that moderate to heavy accumulations of snow, sleet, or ice are likely Friday through Saturday night. Dangerous cold temperatures are expected Saturday night through Monday morning, with potential impacts on infrastructure and travel conditions.
Governor Greg Abbott urged residents to remain vigilant, saying, “A storm system is expected to move through the state, bringing the possibility of freezing rain, sleet, and snow that could create hazardous travel conditions into the weekend.”
The latest travel report highlights ongoing scrutiny of Cruz’s decisions to leave Texas during periods of extreme weather, a pattern that has drawn criticism from both political opponents and public advocates.