Cleveland (US): Texas Senator Ted Cruz was booed during the ongoing Republican National Convention here after he did not endorse Donald Trump as the party’s presidential nominee and asked Americans to “vote your conscience” in the November election. Cruz only went as far as congratulating Trump, who was his bitter rival in the primary contests.
This resulted in booing of Cruz by Trump supporters as millions of Americans and people globally saw bringing to the fore the divide in the Republican party. “We deserve leaders who stand for principle. Unite us all behind shared values. Cast aside anger for love. That is the standard we should expect, from everybody,” Cruz said in his 20-minute speech as he set his standard for the next US president.
“And to those listening, please, don’t stay home in November. 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 stunning the entire Republican delegation. As the party delegation and Trump supporters realised the embarrassment coming from a friend-turned-foe, they started booing Cruz, the loudest booing coming from the New York delegation.
“I understand the enthusiasm coming from the New York delegation,” Cruz said, as Trump supporters continued to boo. As Cruz was concluding his speech, Trump entered the Quicken Loan Arena, with television cameras showing him smiling and giving a thumbs up to the crowd. Less than an hour later, the former House Speaker Newt Gingrich said that Trump is the only candidate to meet the standards set by Cruz.
