As a Category 1 hurricane also known as Hurricane Beryl threatens to devastate the property and lives of many Texas residents, many have wondered whether Texas Governor Greg Abbott’s absence by flying to Seoul, South Korea is warranted.
The action has angered many Texans and evoked criticism of their governor who they believe gives up on them during difficulties.
Leaving Texas
A post that Governor Abbott made on X depicting him meeting with the Korea International Trade Association on an “economic development mission” drew harsh criticism from commenters.
X user Kathleen Vale wrote. “No one cares all eyes on the horrific, thrashing damage of #HurricaneBeryl here in Texas as you are on the other side of the globe.”
Reactions Online
Other comments criticized the governor for failing the electricity grid, which has left millions of Texans without power, according to news reports.
“Considering what your state is going through right now, this post is rather out of touch. One X user commented, “Dude, don’t pat yourself on the back when 2,700,000 people don’t have power right now.
Texans Protest the Absence of Their Governor
People of Texas are protesting on social media platforms complaining about Governor Abbott’s decision to leave the state amid the approach of Hurricane Beryl.
Texans are now threatening to impeach him for his poor performance in office while others are supporting his impeachment. Urging him to focus on helping the people of Texas instead of being an international diplomat.
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Storm Is on the Way
The National Weather Service has forecasted a Class 1 hurricane in specific areas in Texas, with gusting winds, volume of rainfall, and even flash floods occurring.
On the other hand, Governor Abbott may be physically enjoying his trip thousands of miles away from Texas, to Seoul presiding over a world leaders’ summit.
Democratic Leaders Speak Out
Other political leaders’ challengers of Governor Abbott are also using the situation to criticize his actions. Also, terming the decision to leave the state during the emergency as a failure and a betrayal of the people of Texas.
That leaves the Summit, which is a curious product of the Blair years. A regular gathering of the leaders of the major industrialized countries has become both an event and a nadir.
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Delay in Federal Aid
Following the hurricane destruction, President Joe Biden has publicly accused Texas government leadership of causing a delay in the delivery of federal aid to individuals in need.
The Houston Chronicle reports that Biden told the publication that Texas is getting federal assistance later than necessary as a result of the state’s leadership’s tardiness in requesting an official disaster declaration.
The Officials Report
According to the officials of Governor Abbott’s office, he has to be in Seoul attending the summit because of diplomatic and trade issues. Nevertheless, a lot of critics and people wonder when and why he decided to visit the country.
Some are urging Governor Abbott to concentrate on his people’s needs especially at this time forgetting the external events. Indeed, they argue that this is what a state governor has to do anyway, given the job description.
Is This a Sign of a Bigger Problem?
It is, therefore, unclear whether this is a one-off event or a systemic issue of putting politics over people’s welfare. Some are now questioning whether this is symptomatic of a broader issue with the governor as a leader.
The people of Texas are wondering where their governor is when they should be calling on him the most. People want their leader to be available when problems occur or emergencies happen, instead of traveling the globe.
Foreign Policy or Humanitarian Assistance?
Many are calling for Governor Abbott to make a choice. Focus on the foreign policy or focus on humanitarian aid. They argue that he cannot be both a governor and enjoy the privileges of a governor, at the same time.
People in Texas are voicing their disapproval of Governor Abbott by stating that this is not why he was elected. People want their leader to be selfless especially when it comes to the welfare of their state.
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The President Expresses His Displeasure
Biden was not delighted that he could not get in touch with Abbott on the hurricane disaster help. “I’ve been attempting to locate the governor. Without a particular request from the governor, I am powerless to do that,” Biden stated.
“While the federal government was there conducting assessments, we were unable to issue a disaster declaration that would release the supplies we had already arranged. Such as meals, tarps, generators, and bottled water. We simply needed authority to be able to carry out our plan now that we were on the ground and prepared to go.
Crisis of Leadership
It has been noticed that some people are even referring to this as a crisis of leadership rather than solely a crisis management problem.
Some have pointed out that Governor Abbott’s absence during this time highlights an issue that we have seen with his administration.
The Governor’s Activities
Some people are experiencing whiplash because Governor Abbott’s social media feed is a mix of updates on his trip to Asia and worries about the hurricane.
He sent a statement late on Wednesday expressing his condolences for the hurricane victims. “All Texans affected by Hurricane Beryl, especially our fellow Texans who tragically lost their lives or were injured, are in our hearts and thoughts,” Abbott stated.
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