Sen. Dan Coats (R-IN) did not mince words when responding to Sen. Ted Cruz’s (R-TX) refusal to endorse Donald Trump during his speech Wednesday night at the Republican National Convention.
“I think what people saw last night is what we have seen in the Senate. No matter how conservative you are, you never can meet Ted’s standard,” Coats told the IndyStar on Thursday. “He only thinks of himself, he doesn’t think about party. He’s a wrecking ball.”
“He’s the most self-centered, narcissistic, pathological liar I’ve ever seen – and you can quote me on that,” Coats added.
Coats told Roll Call that Cruz’s speech was an attempt to hurt the GOP.
“Sen. Cruz tried to destroy the Republican Party tonight just like he’s tried to destroy the Republican caucus,” he said. “I’ve had to deal with the most self-centered person I’ve ever known in my life.”
The Republican senator’s reaction to his colleague echo the crowd’s response to Cruz’s speech on Wednesday night. The audience booed and broke out in chants of “We want Trump” when it became clear that Cruz would not offer his support to the Republican nominee. Even the delegates from the Texas delegation were unhappy with Cruz’s refusal to endorse Trump, berating him at a Thursday morning breakfast at the convention. And several Trump allies bashed Cruz for declining to back Trump, describing his speech as selfish.
