Cruz walked out to roaring applause and after failing to endorse GOP nominee Donald Trump during his remarks, he was loudly booed as he exited the stage.
Crowd boos @tedcruz as he declines to endorse @realDonaldTrump pic.twitter.com/nqLaVey8mp
— POLITICO (@politico) July 21, 2016
Ted Cruz walked onto the stage with a standing ovation and exited to massive boos #RNCinCLE
— Katie Pavlich (@KatiePavlich) July 21, 2016
During his remarks, Cruz walked right up the line of endorsement and then dropped hints about who Americans should be voting for in November.
"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. "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."
At the beginning of his remarks, Trump congratulated Trump for officially locking down the GOP nomination.
"I congratulate Donald Trump on winning the nomination last night," Cruz said.
UPDATE: The RNC is calling Cruz's speech "classless." New Jersey Governor is calling it "selfish" and "awful."
BREAKING: Sources with the RNC say @Tedcruz speech was 'classless.' Party officials expected him to congratulate @realDonaldTrump.
— Bill Hemmer (@BillHemmer) July 21, 2016
NJ Gov. Chris Christie calls Ted Cruz's speech "awful" and "selfish" in interview with CNN's Dana Bash pic.twitter.com/IQUc6DphmB
— Geoff Bennett (@GeoffRBennett) July 21, 2016
UPDATE II: It should be noted the RNC approved and sent out Cruz' prepared remarks more than an hour before the speech was delivered. Cruz didn't change any of the text during delivery.
UPDATE III: Not pleased.
The look on the Trumps faces as they watched Cruz’s speech pic.twitter.com/0FoGaoM9Xp
— Jon Passantino (@passantino) July 21, 2016
From @DanaBashCNN: Some people on donor suite level so angry at @tedcruz they called him disgrace to his face; one man had to be restrained…
— Dylan Byers (@DylanByers) July 21, 2016
This post has been updated with additional information.