The Texas senator was seen touring the Parthenon in Athens. His staff said the senator booked the earliest flight back to Texas when he learned of the disaster.

Beast reported that while rescue teams searched floodwaters in Texas that Cruz remained in Greece, continuing to sightsee.

Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) called for a proper assessment to prevent future tragedies such as the flash flooding in Texas, asking that this not dissolve into “partisan games.” Cruz addressed the flooding in central Texas,