As Hurricane Beryl lashed the Texas Gulf Coast, Governor Greg Abbott faced public scrutiny for a post that seemed ill-timed amidst the ongoing natural disaster. On Monday morning, Governor Abbott posted about his meeting with @kita_net and South Korean business leaders to talk about strengthening economic ties between Texas and South Korea. According to The Houston Chronicle, people directly affected by the storm criticized the governor's social media activity, with one user responding to the post, "Maybe now isn’t the best time to brag about how awesome your trip is."
Spent a very productive afternoon in Seoul.
— Greg Abbott (@GregAbbott_TX) July 8, 2024
Met with @kita_net and business leaders from across South Korea to discuss economic opportunities in Texas to grow and succeed.
I also met with executives from SK Signet to thank them for their investments in Texas. pic.twitter.com/S4TSrtsA5X
Despite the pushback on social media, Abbott explained in an interview with CNBC that he had been in contact with Texas emergency response teams from Seoul. "I just got off the phone with the chief of that division (Nim Kidd) and they had prepared days in advance with supplies and with support," he said, as mentioned by Houston Chronicle. Amid accusations of inattention, the Governor's office reiterated that Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick was acting as governor in his stead, ensuring continuous management of the crisis.
The governor's Asia trip, as reported by The Houston Chronicle, included a delegation to Taiwan, South Korea, and Japan, and was organized with the aim of fostering economic relationships and encouraging investments in Texas. While there, Abbott also extended his gratitude to executives from SK Signet for their existing commitments to the state.
