Texas Governor Greg Abbott is under fire for being on an overseas trip while Hurricane Beryl made landfall in the state. Abbott, who is currently on a week-long economic development mission in Asia, has faced backlash for not being present during the hurricane's arrival.

Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick has been left in charge of the state's hurricane response while Abbott is away, a decision that has drawn comparisons to Texas Senator Ted Cruz's controversial trip to Cancun during a winter storm in 2021.

Although Abbott claimed to be in daily contact with Texas Division of Emergency Management and local officials to ensure hurricane preparedness, many social media users expressed anger and disappointment at his absence during the natural disaster.

Hurricane Beryl, a Category 1 storm, made landfall early Monday morning, bringing heavy rainfall, strong winds, and the possibility of flooding. The National Hurricane Center has urged residents in affected areas to follow evacuation orders and heed instructions from local officials.

Abbott, in an effort to address the situation, announced on Saturday that a severe weather disaster declaration had been issued for 40 counties, ensuring communities at risk have access to necessary resources and assistance. Patrick subsequently added 81 more counties to the declaration.

Criticism of Abbott's decision to be out of the country during the hurricane has spread on social media, with California Representative Eric Swalwell expressing outrage over the Governor's absence. Swalwell also drew parallels with Ted Cruz's vacation in Cancun during the winter storm in 2021, emphasizing that Abbott's trip is official business rather than a personal vacation.

Twitter users expressed their frustration, with one commenter stating, "So, where the Hell are you? You do not care about Texans!!! What Texans need to see is a governor staying in the state he represents in support of the workers and support team, not out of the country wheeling around luxury circles." Others accused Abbott of being absent without leave (AWOL) and voiced disappointment in his delayed return.

Some social media users defended the Governor, highlighting that his role sometimes requires international travel and that his trip had been planned before the threat of Hurricane Beryl. Abbott is scheduled to return to Texas on July 13.

Newsweek has reached out to a representative of Greg Abbott for additional comment. For any stories or inquiries related to Hurricane Beryl, readers are encouraged to contact LiveNews@newsweek.com.

In the meantime, residents in the affected areas are encouraged to follow local officials' instructions and evacuation orders to ensure their safety during the storm.