NJ Gov. Murphy Ripped For Costa Rican Vacation As COVID Surges Through State

During a December 19 interview with Fox News host Bret Baier, New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy refused to take the idea of an Omicron-induced lockdown off the table completely. Two days later, Murphy and his wife jetted off to Costa Rica for an eight-day Christmas vacation. The same day the Murphys left, New Jersey recorded 9,711 COVID cases, a single-day record for the state.

Murphy has been getting pummeled ever since by politicians who see this as a hypocritical trip. U.S. Rep. Jeff Van Drew​ (R-NJ) told Fox News this is a normal operating procedure from the governor.

“He has left the state of New Jersey on personal trips multiple times during the pandemic, yet continuously imposes mask mandates, vaccine mandates, and virtual school is now back on the table,” Van Drew said Tuesday.

According to NJ.com, at least three state school districts have already announced they will return from the holiday break with virtual classrooms. In Gloucester County, students will go to school for a half-day so they don't have to eat lunch with each other. Students will be given a boxed lunch to take home with them. That will last one week.

Meanwhile, for those who would like to get tested for COVID before returning to a classroom or a job, good luck finding a COVID test in Murphy's state. NJ.com reported Wednesday that COVID tests aren't just hard to come by, they're "nearly impossible to find at this point."

Yet Phil's off at some exotic Costa Rican resort living the good life as people stand in the cold to see if they have a virus. Phil's media team has made a huge effort to make it look like their boss is fully engaged with life back home away from the breezes and beaches of Costa Rica.

Phil's Facebook page has been updated with a Happy Kwanzaa message from his wife, a message about the deaths of Harry Reid and John Madden, plus his daily COVID updates that make it appear he's at work for the people.

According to the New York Post, Phil's vacation doesn't end until Thursday when he'll return to the Garden State with a tan and a clear mind that most likely has more mandates running through his brain.

"If Governor Murphy can travel out of the country when the State Department urges the American people to stay put, Americans should be afforded the same discretion regarding their personal health choices just like our leaders," Rep. Van Drew added during his Fox News appearance. "It is fitting that President Biden escapes his responsibilities by traveling to a Delaware beach house after saying responses to COVID-19 should be left to the states, and then Governor Murphy runs off to a Costa Rican beach."

Remember when Phil ripped Ted Cruz for jetting off for a vacation while all hell broke loose in Texas? You think Phil will apologize, like Cruz did, for jetting off (private flight?) to Costa Rica while Omicron hell broke loose in New Jersey?

Don't bet on it.