Republican Senator Ted Cruz attracted criticism from Trump supporters at Republican National Convention after he refused to endorse Donald J Trump as his party’s nominee for 2016 USA presidential polls. The disorder provided fresh reminders of the fissures that remain.
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Despite getting rousing cheers from the Republican audience, Cruz left to a chorus of boos from Trump supporters after failing to endorse Trump. “His speech was exactly what we needed from him to unite the party”.
And in fact, he congratulated Trump the same way he congratulated Cleveland’s LeBron James on winning an National Basketball Association championship – and just as briefly, before proceeding to the rest of his speech.
In the hours before the speech, a report suggested that Cruz would challenge Trump in a primary in 2020 even if Trump wins the presidency. He said he was “thrilled” that Cruz didn’t endorse Trump, but acknowledged that there was a “big divide” in the Texas delegation on the convention floor. Stand and speak, and vote your conscience. Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich tried to quiet the anger as he took the stage, going off script to try to explain away the senator’s lack of support for the nominee. “Ted Cruz said you can vote your conscience for anyone who can uphold the Constitution”. They agreed, that is, to allow what Trump’s people are now treating as a calamity. He got boos and chants of “We want Trump”, which were picked up by the microphones, because the front around the dais was packed with the most pro-Trump delegations. He pointed out his mother and his wife, Karen, as the delegates on the floor cheered.
Pence framed the November presidential race as crucial to defining the makeup of the Supreme Court for the next 40 years. Most notably, Trump suggested that the USA wouldn’t defend North Atlantic Treaty Organisation allies against Russian aggression. Marco Rubio, mostly urged America to vote against likely Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton.
Pence said he never thought he’d be standing on the stage at his party’s national convention. In fact, he only mentioned Trump’s name once, right at the beginning, to congratulate him on winning the nomination.
Two other failed Republican presidential candidates, Florida Sen.
Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker had a prime speaking slot but delivered a flat speech, especially when compared to the drama around Cruz and a fiery oratory from Laura Ingraham, the radio talker who had ginned up the crowd shortly before Walker took the stage.
New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, the former presidential candidate turned staunch loyal to Trump, told CNN’s Dana Bash that Cruz’s speech was “awful”.
Trump’s speech will close out a four-day conclave in Cleveland that exposed continuing divisions among Republicans over their nominee at a time when they need to unite for a looming battle against Democrat Hillary Clinton in the run-up to the November 8 election.
In the wide-ranging interview, Trump also previewed his father’s address on the final night of the convention.
Controversy over Melania Trump’s Monday evening speech continued to hang over the convention.
“We have the right to free speech”, Weidenkopf said.
Trump’s son, Eric, also spoke on Wednesday night, recounting the unlikely success his father had over the past year. “That pledge was not a blanket commitment that if you go and slander and attack Heidi that I’m gonna nonetheless come like a servile puppy dog and say thank you very much for maligning my wife and maligning my father”. McIver released a statement Wednesday saying that she had inadvertently included some phrases from Mrs. Obama’s speech into Mrs. Trump’s address and offered her resignation.
The first-term senator emphasized that he has no plans to campaign against Trump this fall. First, the electronic screens across Quicken Loans Arena began flickering and eventually had to be shut off.
The remarkable moment upended what was shaping up to be the convention’s most successful night, and overshadowed Indiana Gov. Mike Pence’s national convention debut as Trump’s running mate.
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