CLEVELAND — Supporters of Sen. Ted Cruz let known their disdain for Republican nominee Donald Trump Wednesday as Trump’s plane flew by an event where Cruz thanked delegates and friends for their support throughout his presidential campaign.
Cruz held the event only hours before he is set to deliver an address before the Republican National Convention. Midway through his 17-minute-long address, Cruz happened to mention that the Republican Party now has a nominee just as Trump’s plane flew by, leading to a courtyard full of boos from supporters.
“In an amazing campaign of 17 talented, dynamic candidates, we beat 15 of those candidates,” Cruz said, adding that “we just didn’t beat 16.”
“Our party now has a nominee. And I don’t know — ” Cruz said as supporters began to boo as, almost on cue, Trump’s plane rolled by in the background of where Cruz was speaking.
“That was pretty well orchastrated!” Cruz exclaimed into the microphone, before posing a question to former campaign manager Jeff Roe. “Jeff, did you email them to fly the plane right when I said that?”
Then, in a potential preview of his speech later Wednesday, Cruz said that everyone has an “obligation to follow our conscience.” Throughout his event, Cruz did not mention Trump’s name once, only referring to him as the “nominee” before the plane rolled by.
“I don’t know what the future holds. I don’t know what’s going to happen,” Cruz said. “But what I do know — what remains unshakable is my faith in the men and women here. What I do know is that every one of us has an obligation to follow our conscience, to speak the truth, and truth is unchanging.”
Rep. Louie Gohmert, who supported Cruz’s campaign, told the Examiner that he still wasn’t sure what to expect in Cruz’s speech before the convention later on. However, he praised his comments to supporters.
“It was terrific. That’s my friend, Ted Cruz being Ted,” Gohmert said. When asked what he expects Cruz to tell the convention in mere hours, he said that he still wasn’t sure.
“I know it will be a great speech. That’s all he knows how to give,” Gohmert said. “It’s an interesting time and he’s got some tough decisions to make in choosing his words tonight.”
Cruz’s is set to deliver his remarks before the convention at 9:45 p.m., and will last for 12 minutes, according to Roe.
