It’s been a little over a year since Ted Cruz’s Cancún misadventures, when he abandoned his freezing constituents to escape to warmer climes. You would think he’d learn to steer clear of airline-related stories. But on Tuesday, the man who made questionable jokes about said mishegoss ahead of this year’s Texas storm slipped up.
As per The Washington Post, Cruz and fellow GOP senator — and Jan. 6 downplayer — Ron Johnson met with the “People’s Convoy,” aka the group of Trumpist truckers who’ve spent the last month threatening to annoy and inconvenience the residents of D.C. in an attempt to replicate the protests that recently did the same to certain Canadian cities.
The group has been protesting vaccine mandates, even after many in pandemic-stricken locations have been lifted. Despite this — and despite their repeated failures to cripple American cities and their inhabitants — they vowed to cruise around the metro area “indefinitely,” hoping to score more meetings with famous politicians, like the one that happened Tuesday.
Though there were few details from either the convoy leaders or the two Republican senators that met with them, it did produce one perhaps performative outburst from Cruz. No fan of the mandates that have resulted in a massive uptick in vaccinated Americans, he pivoted the discussion into a dig at the nation’s airlines, which required their employees to be vaxxed, resulting in safe air travel (minus a smattering of outbursts from unruly passengers).
Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) during meeting with D.C. trucker convoy:
“Almost without exception, every time I’m on an airplane, either the captain or a flight attendant will come up to me, will hug me and say, ‘Thank you for fighting for us.’” pic.twitter.com/27eoBrBlMb
— The Recount (@therecount) March 8, 2022
“I fly back and forth to Houston. Almost without exception, every time I’m on an airplane, either the captain or a flight attendant will come up to me, will hug me and say, ‘Thank you for fighting for us,’” Cruz railed. “Because I’ll tell you, American Airlines — sadly, Houston’s a hub of them — has fired thousands of pilots and flight attendants.” He also slammed his hand on the table for dramatic effect.
As per a Fortune report from this past January, American Airlines did not fire “thousands,” as the Texas senator claimed. The estimate was closer to 200. The airline was the first in America to impose a vaccine mandate. A month later, more than half of their 67,000 employees had been fully vaccinated, with the rest either awaiting their first dose or on the verge of termination. You can probably do the math as to how many stood their ground, surrendering their job for a safe, effective, and free vaccine.
When a clip of Cruz’s outburst was made public, some dwelled on his embellishment. Others simply could not believe that one of the most dunkable people on social media was constantly being hugged by appreciative airline staff.
things that very truly definitely actually happen https://t.co/TnKmvoo4zS
— That Tom Tomorrow guy (@tomtomorrow) March 9, 2022
If you believe that flight attendants & captains hug Ted Cruz all the time, I have two tickets to Cancun to sell you. https://t.co/OCrVpsi7me
— Emily Brandwin (@CIAspygirl) March 9, 2022
A Venn Diagram of all the captains and flight attendants on almost every flight coming up to Ted Cruz to compliment him: https://t.co/YPVItJVmwI pic.twitter.com/AtSMPiMz0g
— Mrs. Betty Bowers (@BettyBowers) March 9, 2022
“Sir, there’s a man in 15E who is refusing to get off the plane until you hug him?” https://t.co/tahXFYKbxI
— Daniel Kibblesmith (@kibblesmith) March 9, 2022
I am the pilot that keeps hugging and thanking Ted Cruz. https://t.co/TWpZUBaXHi
— Cody Johnston (@drmistercody) March 9, 2022
The key to a good lie is including as much truth as possible. There was no need to add the “hug me” part. Now everyone knows the whole thing is made up. Have you ever even been to Houston? https://t.co/eMp0qfkfEs
— Ben Mankiewicz (@BenMank77) March 9, 2022
Narrator: Literally no captain or flight attendant has done this. https://t.co/R56FpHEIZj
— John A. Daly (@JohnDalyBooks) March 8, 2022
Ted’s wife & daughter don’t even want to hug him https://t.co/OCrVpsi7me pic.twitter.com/nlkf40juZS
— Emily Brandwin (@CIAspygirl) March 9, 2022
A few things:
1. United Airlines has not fired 1000s of employees- it’s less than 250 out of 67,000
2. no one willingly hugs Ted Cruz
3. and, Cruz needs to keep DC and its policies out of his mouth. https://t.co/05X3th6nud
— Matt K. (@MattJKoe) March 8, 2022
Narrator: “No one actually wants to hug Ted Cruz.” https://t.co/DTm5wUsmGQ
— Tara Setmayer (@TaraSetmayer) March 8, 2022
Gonna need to see some receipts on that, Ted https://t.co/01phue5vhg
— John Iadarola (@johniadarola) March 8, 2022
To some, it sounded suspiciously like one of Donald Trump’s equally far-fetched tales about strangers coming up to him, tears in their eyes, calling him “sir.”
No no no, your delivery is all wrong, @SenTedCruz. They are supposed to come up to you with TEARS in their eyes and say, “SIR, thank you for fighting for us” https://t.co/X2rY9ndMiS
— Asha Rangappa (@AshaRangappa_) March 8, 2022
“Sir,” they said. Big, strong men, crying. “Sir, thank you, sir. Thank you for fighting for us sir.” https://t.co/u6i22ptuy9
— Brian Tyler Cohen (@briantylercohen) March 8, 2022
There were also Cancún jokes.
Did they do it on the flight to Cancun? https://t.co/a9qr4MLGat
— Full Frontal with Samantha Bee (@FullFrontalSamB) March 8, 2022
I wonder if that happened on his flight to Cancun? https://t.co/T1lUlTycU3
— Paul Begala (@PaulBegala) March 8, 2022
ESPECIALLY on the flights to Cancun. Tears in their eyes. Sobbing with humility. https://t.co/Jmk5rBxqfo
— david cross (@davidcrosss) March 8, 2022
Maybe they hugged him because of the frequent trips to Cancun, but even then… https://t.co/pRFRP7nkEl pic.twitter.com/85TMa1cK7V
— Jaime Harrison, DNC Chair (@harrisonjaime) March 8, 2022
And other jokes of different stripes.
Are they Russian airlines? https://t.co/yB2pNZMSFn
— Dave Pell (@davepell) March 9, 2022
Some pointed out that what Cruz was doing — lending voice to people with a dodgy agenda, targeting the lives of everyday citizens just trying to get by — was not funny.
Two of the most nefarious actors in the senate, @SenTedCruz & @SenRonJohnson, continuing to sow discord in our country. Don’t you fools understand your roles in undermining U.S. security. It’s your actions that encourage our enemies to strike out at us & our allies. https://t.co/goLxhMZd5Y
— Alexander S. Vindman (@AVindman) March 8, 2022
(Via WaPo)