House GOP Puts Travel Ban on Crenshaw After Reported Alcohol Incident in Mexico

Top House Republicans have quietly sidelined Rep. Dan Crenshaw from international travel for the next three months following what multiple sources have described as an alcohol-related incident during an official congressional delegation to Mexico, according to new reporting from Punchbowl News.

The disciplinary step — a formal prohibition on joining any foreign CODELs through early next year — was issued by GOP leadership after an internal assessment of Crenshaw’s conduct. While the details remain behind closed doors, the fact that leadership moved to impose a documented travel ban underscores the seriousness of the concerns. Such measures are exceedingly rare, even when members face private reprimands for missteps overseas.

Crenshaw, a former Navy SEAL who lost his right eye fighting in Afghanistan, has built much of his congressional reputation around national security expertise and foreign policy engagement. Since taking office in 2019, he has been a frequent participant in high-level delegations involving defense cooperation and intelligence matters. The three-month ban marks a significant setback for a lawmaker whose brand is so closely tied to global engagement.

It also comes at a moment of rising tension between Crenshaw and key parts of the Republican base.

Over the past several weeks, Crenshaw has drawn criticism after lamenting what he called an alarming trend of elevating “fringe or extremist voices” on the right. During an appearance on Face the Nation, he said, “moral clarity is a lot more important” than platforming figures he views as beyond the pale — pointing specifically to Tucker Carlson’s decision to host Nick Fuentes.

The comments reignited long-simmering frustrations among conservative activists, who have often accused Crenshaw of drifting toward the political center and dismissing influential voices on the right. A previous hot-mic moment in which he made disparaging remarks about Carlson only deepened those suspicions.

Inside Texas politics, Crenshaw now faces an energized primary challenge from State Rep. Steve Toth, who argues the congressman has abandoned core conservative convictions. Early polling still shows Crenshaw ahead, but his critics believe he is vulnerable with grassroots Republicans who distrust his voting record — particularly on national security authorities, federal spending, and what they view as an overly conciliatory posture in the media spotlight.

The travel suspension will further complicate Crenshaw’s position on Capitol Hill. Foreign CODELs are more than photo ops: they are key to shaping legislative insight, strengthening alliances, and examining military operations firsthand. Losing access to those missions — even temporarily — diminishes Crenshaw’s ability to influence defense and intelligence debates at a time when President Donald J. Trump’s administration is actively reshaping America’s strategic posture abroad.

GOP leadership has offered no indication of whether additional disciplinary steps are forthcoming or whether the matter will be considered resolved when the ban ends early next year. For now, the party is keeping an extremely tight lid on any specifics regarding the Mexico incident.

The episode reflects the delicate internal balancing act facing Republicans in an era of heightened transparency, intra-party division, and intensified voter scrutiny. For Crenshaw, the months ahead will determine whether he can regain momentum — or whether this incident and his widening rift with the conservative grassroots will deepen existing vulnerabilities.

With the travel ban in effect into next year, Crenshaw’s influence on foreign policy — the arena he has long used to define his role in Congress — will be sharply curtailed.