At this year's Republican National Convention, Senator Ted Cruz stepped onto the stage to laud the party's nominee, a marked departure from his infamous refusal to endorse Donald Trump in 2016. With the convention spotlighting national security, Cruz charged forward with his rhetoric, endorsing Trump's plan to "bring order to the border and increase security throughout the country," a sharp pivot from his stance just eight years earlier, as reported by the Texas Tribune.
During his convention speech, Cruz claimed Joe Biden's presidency made "your family is less safe. Your children are less safe. The country is less safe" and celebrated Trump's previous efforts to secure the border, asserting they resulted in the "lowest rate of illegal immigration in 45 years," he drove this point home by invoking the loss of Americans like Georgia nursing student Laken Riley, allegedly killed by undocumented immigrants, leading the crowd into chants of "Every damn day." It's a contrast that highlights the political metamorphosis of Cruz, who once branded Trump a "sniveling coward" after personal attacks during the contentious 2016 Republican primary.
Notably absent from the 2020 RNC, Cruz evolved from Trump's fierce critic to ardent supporter, justifying his change in alignment as a practical maneuver for political efficacy, stating on "The View," "I could have decided my feelings are hurt, I’m going to take the ball and go home and not do my job,” indicating an alignment of policy as the impetus for their rapprochement. Cruz's endorsement this election cycle was timely after Trump's solid showing in the Iowa Caucuses.
Meanwhile, Cruz has dismissed speculations regarding another presidential bid, focusing instead on his Senate reelection—a race he's not taking lightly, especially given Texas's shifting political landscape marked by former U.S. Rep. Beto O’Rourke’s near upset in 2018, notwithstanding the notion, running for president was the “most fun I've ever had in my life," and he intends to throw his hat in the ring in the future, so said Cruz. Other heavyweights of the Republican party stood by Trump at the convention, including former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, the latter being seen as a strong Trump contender, both endorsing the former president, with Haley proclaiming, "Donald Trump has my strong endorsement, period."
This Republican National Convention sets stage yet again for a potent display of political alliances as former rivals band together in a display of solidarity behind a singular candidate. Trump's presence in the audience, as highlighted by the Texas Tribune, seemed to symbolize not just a personal victory in securing endorsements from former adversaries but a testament to his enduring influence over the party's direction.
