New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie (R) called Sen. Ted Cruz’s (R-Texas) performance at the Republican National Convention “an awful, selfish speech.”
In his Wednesday night speech, Cruz refused to endorse Donald Trump for president and was subsequently booed by the crowd. He advised Republicans to “vote your conscience,” a reference to the group of Republicans who had pushed against the coronation of Trump as the nominee.
Christie condemned Cruz’s speech only minutes after the senator had left the stage. In fact, the words of former House Speaker Newt Gingrich (R-Ga.), who was onstage next, can be heard in the background of Christie’s interview.
“I don’t understand how someone could present themselves as a person of integrity and then come into this room tonight and give that cute speech he gave. And that was cute,” Christie told NBC News correspondent Hallie Jackson. “I just think it was an awful performance by someone who showed himself tonight to not be a man of his word.”
According to Christie, Cruz’s speech “showed everybody why he has richly earned the reputation that he has on Capitol Hill,” referring to the senator’s well-documented unpopularity among his colleagues.
According to writer and radio talk-show host Erick Erickson, Trump knew Cruz’s non-endorsement was coming.
Jason Johnson, a strategist on Cruz’s presidential campaign, later tweeted that “Cruz told Trump directly two days ago.”
And after Wednesday’s convention events ended, Trump tweeted his own take on Cruz’s speech, indicating he was aware that Cruz planned not to endorse him.