On Friday, CNN anchor Anderson Cooper slammed Sen. Ted Cruz’s attempt at damage control by offering a forced apology for his controversial Cancun trip.
Cruz sparked widespread outrage for fleeing to Mexico with his family this week as his home state was hit by winter storms and mass power blackouts and water shortages.
The Republican senator was forced to cut short his trip, returning by himself Thursday night, and admitted it had been a mistake. However, as Cooper noted, Cruz soon tried to change the narrative by lamenting the “divided” state of the country and suggesting the media focus not on his scandal but on helping to solve the unfurling weather emergency.
“For damage control, he’s shifted that into cruise control,” quipped Cooper.
“We’re at a very divided place in our country, where people are screaming vitriol and hate. And you know what? I think that is a sad sign of where are. I don’t do that to other people. You don’t see me screaming at people I disagree with that they need to resign. And one of the things I’m most dismayed about how the last 24 hours played out is this whole thing has dominated the airwaves instead of focussing on let’s solve the problems,” Cruz said in an interview.
Cooper was not buying it:
“I’m sure he’s dismayed at the coverage, but not for the stated reason. Because truth be told, it has not dominated the airwaves. It may feel that way to him because it’s so mortifying, but the airwaves have actually been dominated on local and national news outlets with hours and hours of reporting on the actual crisis, the one you were tired of hearing about and dealing with and were trying to escape from, Senator Cruz.”
“As for the country being, as you say, in a divided place. Coming from the guy that did all he could to perpetuate the lie that the election was stolen, the guy who voted to challenge the outcome of the legitimate election even after the Capitol was attacked?” Cooper added. “It’s a little rich.”
Watch the video below:
On "Flyin' Ted" Cruz and his rapid return trip from a Mexican vacation, @AndersonCooper is #KeepingThemHonest.
"No doubt, many Texans are dreaming of someplace warm tonight and perhaps someplace warmer for the Senator." pic.twitter.com/G5VyA8s6oT
— Anderson Cooper 360° (@AC360) February 20, 2021
