US Senator Ted Cruz has been ridiculed for posting a tweet in which he confused the US state of Washington with Western Australia while criticizing the Covid restrictions.

The Republican politician – who tried to win the party’s presidential nomination in 2016 – retweeted a message from the Western Australian government, whose pseudonym is Government WA – who appeared to inform a woman that dancing would not be allowed at a New Years party at her home.

Cruz, who has campaigned against pandemic restrictions, took as an example attacking Democratic-led Washington state, whose widely used abbreviation is also WA, claiming the leaders were “drunk authoritarian kill-joys.” to be able to “. This despite the fact that the original tweet did not mention Washington.

Cruz tweeted, “The Democrats of the Blue State are authoritarian kill-joys drunk on power. Washington State: NO DANCE ALLOWED !!! Any rational and free citizen: Piss off.

Cruz deleted the tweet but not before it was picked up by opponents who mocked him happily for his mistake.

Illinois Republican Congressman Adam Kinzinger retweeted Cruz’s post and said the Texas senator should “do your research before you publish misinformation.”

US Democratic Congressman Eric Swalwell also noted the error and tweeted, “Hey Ted, WA is Western Australia. But cool tweet.

After Cruz deleted the message, Swalwell retaliated by posting: “Jackpot. @tedcruz deleted his fake outrage tweet. Please stay on this fake ”.

Western Australia has imposed strict border controls since the start of the pandemic and is still closed to almost all Australians from other states.

His Facebook message to the woman came after she asked him if she was allowed to throw a New Years Eve party.

The answer said “masks are not required in private residences. It is strictly forbidden to dance ”.