Ted Cruz Falls for Hoax Photo of Shark in Flooded Los Angeles

Talking about the weather is supposed to be the safest conversation topic of all ― but apparently not for Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas).

The Tweet That Fooled Cruz

The smarmy Texas Republican retweeted a photo that supposedly showed a shark in the flooded waters of the 405 freeway in Los Angeles, but was, in reality, a variation on a hoax photo that’s been swimming on the internet since at least 2011.

“Holy crap,” the senator wrote on X, formerly Twitter. Tropical storm Hilary tore through Southern California on Sunday evening, causing flooded roads, mudslides and widespread power outages — but, as far as we can tell, no shark sightings.

Debunking the Hoax

Some people weren’t fooled one bit and quickly provided context to the tweet. A note was added to Cruz’s tweet informing readers that the doctored image, which has circulated online following several notable storms, originated with a photo showing a shark trailing a kayaker from a 2005 article in Africa Geographic.

Texas really can’t do better for a senator than a creature who groveled before Trump after he insulted his wife and now falls for a decade-plus old internet hoax? https://t.co/yQlfcUgtYc

— Michael Deibert (@michaelcdeibert) August 21, 2023

Others just pointed out the senator’s limited critical thinking abilities.

Cruz’s Response

Cruz eventually admitted he fell for a hoax, but tried to blame it on the fact that it was supposedly from Los Angeles.

“I’m told this is a joke,” he wrote. “In LA, you never know…And everyone please stay safe from the storm or otherwise.”

I’m told this is a joke.

In LA, you never know… 🤷🏻♂️

And everyone please stay safe from the storm or otherwise.

— Ted Cruz (@tedcruz) August 21, 2023

But that didn’t help, especially after the guy who posted the tweet that fooled Cruz doubled down, and posted another fake photo of sharks swimming in a flooded mall.

I could describe the entire plot of Joker (2019) and tell him that it happened to my buddy Eric and he’d actually believe me. https://t.co/kN354XwpuS

— cinnamon bun (@notsofiacoppola) August 21, 2023

Cruz’s Track Record

Cruz doesn’t have a great track record when it comes to commenting on weather events.

This has been the case since February 2021, when the senator left his fellow Texans suffering record-cold temperatures and power outages to stay in sunny and warm Cancun, Mexico.

Cruz was criticized for his actions, and the resulting humiliation led him to fly back to Texas almost immediately.