Why did Trump "let" Cruz Speak, if he knew he would not endorse? It's all in the "Art of the Deal",

[Just mythoughts]

Stop paying attention to ‘red’ Eric, he is as mean spirited as one gets.

[Parmy]

vote your conscience line

Since someone else used that line previously in the past, couldn't that be construed as pagiersm (sp)?

[Jim from C-Town]

Ted Cruz the AV Geek was invited to the big Football party with the team and the cheerleaders and instead of acting cool and making nice he got drunk, pooped in his pants, pissed on the rug, threw up on the head cheerleader and groped the family dog.

Ted Cruz.: The new Tim Misney. Doing wills and chasing ambulances for a career.

[Parmy]

He gave Cruz the rope and Cruz used it.

[Tilted Irish Kilt]

He allowed cruz to dig his own political grave
It was a "win- win" situation for Trump
and Cruz was shown to violate his word that he would support whomever the party candidate was
and broke his word !
Thus ending his own Presidential consideration in the future.
When presented the opportunity , Cruz proved to become the "Lying Ted" that Trump had spoken of so frequently !

[WKTimpco]

“...played Cruz like a fiddle....”

Yes, Trump plays 3D chess with the self-obsessed Cruz
and the one-track-mind media.

[detch]

Erik Erikson is a “never Trumper” who never gives up.

He is a disgrace to journalism.

And a jackass.

[dragnet2]

☺☺☺☺

[grania]

It's been said a few times. Trump gave Cruz a whole lot of rope. Cruz could've either used it as a life line or used it to hang himself.

Cruz is such an idiot that he thought what he was doing was using it as a lifeline.

That's my take, anyway. By doing it this way, Mr. Trump did the 'pubs a very big favor. They didn't like him, and now they don't have to worry as much about him getting in their way. Cruz's treachery means he'll never be believed again.

[Sarah Barracuda]

Even when Ted Cruz was talking about Michael Smith(The police officer murdered in Dallas) and his 9 year old daughter Caroline, Ted Cruz once again had to make it about HIM..how his daughter has the same name..geez, with Ted Cruz its always about HIM..I figured out what kind of man Ted Cruz is when he blamed TRUMP for Commie bastards protesting in Chicago and beating up Trump supporters, he didnt stand with police, he stood with the COMMIE PROTESTORS

[Just mythoughts]

Trump let Cruz the gas bag do what he does best ‘talk’... Cruz is the personality type that believes so long as he is talking he is winning... Cruz showed the world that what he says and does are worlds apart... Do NOT be necklacing ‘mean spirited’ around Trump... Ted Cruz is neck and neck with Hillry in the ‘mean spirit’ department.

[combat_boots]

Cruz was pulling a crazy Bernie, 30-minute Castro harangue to the masses. Straight outta Havana.

[CAluvdubya]

I dont care who endorsed who. We have to win in November. The bigger picture is more important.

Well, Hillary is already using Ted's words from last night in a campaign plus for her.

Ted's an idiot if he didn't see that coming.

[Sarah Barracuda]

A former NeverTrumper is done with Ted Cruz and that is Michael Reagan, he never liked Trump but he said what Cruz did last night was NOT classy..I was surprised to see that since I have seen for months that Michael Reagan was no fan of Trump

[tennmountainman]

Great gif!

[Billthedrill]

Erikson’s a complete bozo. I wouldn’t give him the time of day. Trump let Cruz speak. What Cruz said, and the consequences, are all Cruz.

[tennmountainman]

Erickson is a fat faced fraud!

[Sarah Barracuda]

Vote Your Conscience, yeah I can see that working for Hillary Clinton LOL..even IF she thinks that will help her it wont..but Cruz has his own aspirations, he thinks he has a chance in 2020, my 16 month old nephew has a better chance at becoming President than Ted Cruz

[surroundedbyblue]

Get a grip. Trump just gave Cruz the stage. It was Cruz’s choice to do with it as he wished. There was no set-up here. I guess if you’re a narcissist and egomaniac like Cruz though, you’re always the victim & martyr.

My guess is that whacko Cruz wants to start a third party and fancies himself as the head of that movement. For a minute last night, I thought his “vote your conscience” line was a dog whistle to Cruzbots to launch a write-in campaign. In any case, such a move is woefully unpatriotic as doing such could hand the election to Hitlery. But Cruz doesn’t appear to care. It’s just all about him all the time. Bastard.

[pieceofthepuzzle]

Although I agree that Trump did the right thing and was smart to let this play out, it appears that he didn't have the text of the speech until ~2hours prior. That means Cruz held out until then to supply the text. Until then he could have certainly been giving false signals to Trump that he would be supportive - even if not giving a full endorsement. Two hours notice was not enough time for Trump to dump Cruz, readjust the speakers, and to do damage control. To dump Cruz at that point would have played into Cruz's hands, and one wonders if this is what he had in mind. Trump did the right thing.