Ted Cruz Rejects Claims That Weather Manipulation Caused Texas Flash Flooding

Sen. Ted Cruz, a Republican from Texas, participated in a press conference Monday with local officials to discuss the severe flooding that’s killed at least 90 people in the state, including children at an all-girls summer camp, with dozens of people still missing. It’s a horrible tragedy but people online are suggesting without evidence that the floods are actually part of some nefarious and deliberate conspiracy to kill people.

Cruz was asked by a reporter Monday about conspiracy theories that have popped up online suggesting the flash flooding was caused by weather manipulation. The Guadalupe River near Camp Mystic rose 26 feet in just 45 minutes due to flash flooding. But Cruz said there was no evidence that any weather manipulation was involved.

“To the best of my knowledge, there is zero evidence of anything related to anything like weather modification,” Cruz said during the press conference. “And, look, the internet can be a strange place. People can come up with all sorts of crazy theories.”

Cruz is absolutely right about that. Just about every tragedy brings out the crazies these days on platforms like X, which has only become a bigger hub for unfounded claims since Elon Musk bought the company back in late 2022. The billionaire allows anyone to buy a blue “verification” checkmark, which gives the average user a false impression that an account can be trusted. Those verified accounts get boosted in the X algorithm, and the spread of misinformation just compounds.

“Land swallowed by water in under 60 minutes. THIS. IS. NOT. NORMAL,” wrote an account called HustleBitch that frequently posts conspiracy theories on X. Others claimed the rain in Texas isn’t “normal rain,” and some brought up previous disasters like the devastating wildfire in Hawaii in 2023. At least 102 people died in the Lahaina fire and conspiracy theorists at the time were also suggesting it was planned by the government to steal land.

Alex Jones, arguably the most prominent American conspiracy theorist in the world, said in a video on X and Rumble that he’s getting a lot of questions about whether the flooding in Texas was caused by weather modification. And he said he didn’t know, couching his position as “just asking questions,” something that’s extremely common for people like Jones. The Texas-based conspiracy theorist acknowledged he’s not a meteorologist but claimed the radar for the storm appeared odd to him because it was too circular. Or something. It’s never totally clear what guys like Jones are trying to insinuate.

Cruz was critical of people he claimed were trying to politicize the tragedy at Camp Mystic, but critics have raised serious concerns about what the Trump regime is doing to disaster preparedness. The White House has made cuts to the National Weather Service and President Trump has been very public about wanting to abolish FEMA after hurricane season.

And while Cruz may blame random people on the internet for spreading conspiracy theories, there are unhinged conspiracy theorists within his own party, including folks like Trump and Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, a congresswoman from Georgia. In fact, Greene said over the weekend that she wants to introduce a bill similar to Florida’s Senate Bill 56 and make it a felony to manipulate the weather.

“I am introducing a bill that prohibits the injection, release, or dispersion of chemicals or substances into the atmosphere for the express purpose of altering weather, temperature, climate, or sunlight intensity. It will be a felony offense,” Greene wrote on X. Greene went on to insist “this is not normal,” referring to the weather modification she believes is happening, which seems to be the mantra for the internet’s weirdest kooks.

Ten campers from Camp Mystic and one counselor are still unaccounted for, according to CNN. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters Monday that President Trump would be visiting Texas soon. “President Trump loves you. We are praying for you, and he will be traveling to see you later this week,” Leavitt said, with NBC News reporting the trip would likely take place on Friday.