Well, that was awkward.
Ted Cruz just delivered an address at the Republican National Convention — and he got booed.
The reason? He didn't endorse Donald Trump.
The Texas senator and former presidential hopeful's failure to throw his support behind the newly minted GOP nominee was met with loud boos and jeers from the thousands of delegates and guests who filled Cleveland's Quicken Loans Arena for night three of the RNC.
Cruz was one of the last candidates standing in a long and bitter primary fight that once saw more than a dozen Republicans fighting for the party's nomination. Trump officially clinched the nod on Tuesday, when delegates from across the country gave him the support he needed to become the GOP's candidate on the November ballot.
On Wednesday, Cruz gave a primetime address that many observers thought sounded a lot like a guy planning to run for president again. The Texas Republican congratulated Trump on the honor of winning the nomination and urged all listening, "please don't stay home in November." But he stopped short of giving his formal rival his formal backing.
"If you love our country, and love your children as much as I know that you do, 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," Cruz said.
Boos echoed out inside the arena as well as in an outside plaza, where dozens more Republicans were gathered to watch the speeches via livestream. When the crowd broke into chants of "We Want Trump," Cruz simply paused and gave a nod to Trump's home state.
"I appreciate the enthusiasm of the New York delegation," he said.
Trump took to Twitter to dismiss Cruz's move as "no big deal."
Wow, Ted Cruz got booed off the stage, didn't honor the pledge! I saw his speech two hours early but let him speak anyway. No big deal!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 21, 2016
It's worth noting that there doesn't appear to be much love lost between the two Republicans. Cruz once called Trump "amoral," a "pathological liar," and a "narcissist at a level that I don't think this country has ever seen." Trump frequently trolled his opponent as "Lyin' Ted" on Twitter.
Cruz wasn't the only former primary competitor to speak at the RNC. New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie and Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker were also given slots to address the crowd. Both have endorsed Trump.
#DonaldTrump supporters boo #TedCruz at end of his speech. Wanted an endorsement they didn't get from Cruz. pic.twitter.com/BOhSxWUVEn
— Jason Donner (@jason_donner) July 21, 2016
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