A dispute over planning and security for the 2026 World Cup prompted Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo to walk out of Thursday's commissioners court meeting. Commissioners continued without Hidalgo, who briefly returned roughly an hour later before departing again for a scheduled appointment.

During Thursday's public comment session, Harris County Republican precinct chair and conservative author Barbara Denson said Hidalgo was "splurging" and called the trip a "frivolous" expenditure. Denson rebuked the judge for requesting the county spend such funds when it couldn't cover essential costs.

Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo has been open about her mental health struggles and did not shy away from the topic when her duties as county judge were challenged by Commissioner Adrian Garcia during a recent commissioners court meeting.