In his first major address since ending his campaign for the Republican nomination, Sen. Ted Cruz Saturday avoided any mention of Donald Trump, failing to weigh in on the effort by GOP leaders to unite Republicans behind the presumptive nominee.
Instead, during an appearance at the Texas Republican convention, Cruz seemed to strike a note of defiance, warning that though there may be challenging days ahead for his supporters, “truth will prevail.” Cruz during the primaries was repeatedly referred to by Trump as “Lyin’ Ted.”
As Trump and his backers assert that Trump has created a “movement,” Cruz said it was his own campaign that “sparked a movement.” He vowed to continue to battle “just as tenaciously” for conservative principles in the Senate as he did during his presidential bid.
“I will continue to get up and fight for you,” he said
Cruz thanked Texans for their support.
“Thank you, thank you, thank you from the bottom of my heart,” Cruz said.
He said his supporters’ help, “enabled us, in a field of 17 candidates, the most talented, diverse, dynamic, young, incredible field perhaps in Republican Party history, for us to prevail to the very end to defeat 15 of those candidates.”
Cruz briefly reflected on how those who helped him run his presidential campaign would have made great leaders.
His wife Heidi Cruz and his father Rafael Cruz, would have been great as first lady and “first dad,” the senator said. Carly Fiorina, who briefly ran as his vice presidential running mate, Cruz described as “incomparable.” He noted that Fiorina would have made a “phenomenal vice president” and just might become one some day in the future.
Cruz ended his campaign on May 3, after enduring a crushing defeat in Indiana’s Republican primary to Trump. The only other remaining candidate, Ohio Gov. John Kasich, dropped out the next day.
Cruz encouraged his fellow Texas Republicans to “have hope.”
“God is not done with America yet,” he said.
