Lifestyle

Mariachi Band Plays Outside Ted Cruz's House After His Cancun Trip

by Julie Scagell
The1OnlyRichie/Twitter and Drew Angerer/Getty

The band played as neighbors and spectators took to the street outside his home

It’s now widely known that Senator Ted Cruz left to vaca in Mexico with his family while his home state of Texas was being pummeled by a winter storm and freezing temps that caused power outages, low water supplies, and at least 55 deaths so far. Cruz made an about-face after massive public scrutiny, and since he didn’t get to enjoy his time away, some friendly Texans decided to send a mariachi band to his house instead.

The band was seen playing outside the home the real-life Eddie Munster shares with his wife and kids (who are still sunning themselves in Mexico). According to witnesses, some of his neighbors went out on in front of his house to enjoy the live music on Sunday, which was organized by Adam Jama, the Independent reported.

Jama wrote on a fundraising page for the band that, “No one should go to Cancun and not listen to mariachi.”

After initially lying to the world and saying he was just going to accompany his girls down to Mexico and return immediately, texts were uncovered from his wife to friends talking about the trip and his original itinerary showed he was planning to stay through the weekend.

Cruz admitted later that the vacation was a “mistake,” and that he “was trying to take care of my kids.”

As outrage over his actions continued over the weekend, videos began popping up on Twitter, showing the mariachi band playing songs outside Cruz’s home. “Senator Cruz, being an amazing dad, dropped off his family in Cancun in the middle of a major crisis and came back to Texas to continue serving his constituents,” Jama continued. “We want to thank Senator Cruz for his leadership and pay for an amazing Mariachi band to perform for him.”

Jama made sure to note that all proceeds from the fundraiser will go directly to Texas Children’s Hospital in Cruz’s Houston neighborhood.

One bystander at the performance on Sunday held a sign that said: “Cruz’s lies cost lives.”

Cruz said in a written statement after returning: “With school cancelled for the week, our girls asked to take a trip with friends. Wanting to be a good dad, I flew down with them last night and am flying back this afternoon.” He then told Fox News anchor Sean Hannity, “I had initially planned to stay through the weekend and to work remotely there, but as I – 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.”

At least some good came out of it — a children’s hospital got some money and Ted Cruz continues to be publicly shamed for being Ted Cruz.