After months of offering advice to, defending, and praising Donald Trump without a formal endorsement, former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani finally told the New York Post that he planned to vote for his “close personal friend” in the April 19 Republican primary.
“I support Trump. I’m gonna vote for Trump,” Giuliani told The Post on Thursday.
“Trump is a negotiator,” the former mayor continued. “He negotiates from a high bar to get people’s attention.”
Giuliani dismissed reports that he was supposed to be meeting with Trump rival Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) ahead of the primary, saying the Texas senator’s dismissive remarks about “New York values” helped decide his vote.
“It’s New York City. We’re family,” Giuliani said. “I can make fun of New York. But you can’t!”
Cruz tried to defend this line of attack on Wednesday, explaining that he was criticizing the “liberal Democratic values” of New York politicians like current New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio and Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D).
That didn’t sway Giuliani, who insisted “there was a better way” for Cruz to get that message across.
As recently as late March, Giuliani said he was putting off making any endorsement while Ohio Gov. John Kasich (R) remained in the race.
“If the primary is between him and Cruz, I’ll support him,” he told the New York Observer, referring to Trump. “But I certainly think he’s a better candidate than Cruz. But Kasich is still in the race, and I have a lot of respect for Kasich.”
Apparently, he’s changed his mind.
Giuliani also announced in February that he has been providing “frank” advice and guidance to the Trump campaign.
