Cruz Blocked From Adelson’s RNC Suite After Refusing To Endorse Trump

Republican presidential candidate, Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas speaks at a campaign stop, Friday, March 25, 2016, in Oshkosh, Wis. (AP Photo/Darren Hauck)
Start your day with TPM.
Sign up for the Morning Memo newsletter

Billionaire GOP megadonor Sheldon Adelson refused Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) entry to his suite at the Republican National Convention on Wednesday night after the Texas senator declined to endorse Donald Trump in his speech, CNN reported.

Senior Adelson aide Andy Abboud confirmed to CNN that his boss had invited Cruz to visit with him and his wife Miriam, but turned him away at the door after he stunned the audience at Quicken Loans Arena by urging voters to vote their conscience in November.

“When he didn’t endorse, they were stunned and disappointed,” Abboud told the network.

“We could not allow Ted Cruz to use the Adelsons as a prop against Donald Trump,” he continued. “The Adelsons support Donald Trump and made that clear. They like Ted Cruz, but there was no way the Adelsons were going to be the first stop after not endorsing. That would be disrespectful to our nominee.”

Cruz sought the support of the Las Vegas casino magnate during his own bid for the 2016 nomination. Adelson met with several Republican candidates but ultimately waited until Trump emerged as the presumptive nominee after the Indiana primary to formally endorse the real estate mogul.

Trump himself stopped by the suite, and Abboud tweeted a photo of him with the Adelsons.

Cruz and his wife Heidi were escorted from the convention floor by security after he was booed off stage. They were approached by furious donors and delegates who insulted Cruz and physically intimidated him.

Latest Livewire
Comments
Masthead Masthead
Founder & Editor-in-Chief:
Executive Editor:
Managing Editor:
Associate Editor:
Editor at Large:
General Counsel:
Publisher:
Head of Product:
Director of Technology:
Associate Publisher:
Front End Developer:
Senior Designer: