Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas, who finished second in this year’s Republican presidential primary contest, was essentially booed off the stage at the party’s national convention on Wednesday night after withholding an endorsement of Donald Trump and telling the audience to “vote their conscience” in this year’s election.
“Please, don’t stay home in November,” Cruz told the delegates gathered and the millions watching at home. “Stand, and speak, and vote your conscience, vote for candidates up and down the ticket who you trust to defend our freedom and to be faithful to the Constitution.”
Seen largely by GOP officials and loyalists as betrayal of Trump and divisive for the party, the comments were not well-received by many in the hall.
Watch:
Subsequently, as Cruz concluded his speech, the boos grew even more pronounced:
Responding on Thursday morning, Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort said on NBC’s “Today” show the speech was a disappointment. “Cruz used very bad judgment,” Manafort said. “I think he made a mistake.”
During the Republican primary Trump gave Cruz the derisive nickname “Lyin’ Ted” as a swipe at his integrity, repeating it on the campaign trail and during debates.
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