Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-TX) has come under fire for a recent social media post that, critics say, poorly timed and insensitive, juxtaposed personal grievances and appearance concerns against the backdrop of catastrophic floods in Texas. The floods, which have been particularly severe in Central Texas, have claimed the lives of 111 individuals, including 27 children.
“The sad part is, I think that my heart is going to carry a level of weight that will continue to weigh me down as we have to continue to do our best to survive in an administration that literally is against us,” Rep. Crockett
The congresswoman uploaded the contentious video on Monday, expressing her political frustrations and the emotional toll of operating under an administration she feels is adversarial. “The sad part is, I think that my heart is going to carry a level of weight that will continue to weigh me down as we have to continue to do our best to survive in an administration that literally is against us,” Crockett remarked. Her comments were made even as federal disaster relief was mobilizing to support the affected regions.
In the midst of discussing these grave concerns, Crockett shifted focus to her new hairstyle, giving a shoutout to her hairdresser for her new bob cut. This pivot to personal aesthetics within the context of a larger tragedy has sparked outrage among constituents and observers. Adding fuel to the fire, Crockett edited the post to acknowledge comments about her haircut, thanking her stylist with a light-hearted emoji, a move perceived by many as minimizing the concurrent human suffering.
Crockett also critiqued her perceived lack of legislative freedom, attributing it to the influence of the Trump administration and recent Supreme Court rulings. These political grievances formed a substantial part of her message while, outside the digital sphere, families continued their search for missing loved ones amidst the destruction.
The Central Texas floods represent one of the most devastating natural disasters in the state's recent memory. CNN has reported a steadily rising death toll, with over 170 individuals still unaccounted for. Flash floods destroyed numerous cabins and homes, many of which housed families celebrating the Fourth of July weekend. The Guadalupe River experienced an unprecedented rise, surging 26 feet in less than an hour on Friday morning, catching many residents unaware and asleep.
One of the most heart-wrenching stories to emerge from this disaster is that of Camp Mystic, an all-girls Christian camp, where twenty-seven children perished due to the sudden floodwaters. The youngest victims, mere eight and nine years old, have been publicly mourned by their communities, with tributes to their lives and the impact they left behind.
Emergency services continue their relentless search and rescue operations, working against challenging terrain and debris-filled waters. The magnitude of the destruction has left some areas with only the foundations where homes and cabins once stood, emphasizing the scale of the catastrophe.
