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title: Transcript of Ted Cruz Speech When He Didn&#x27;t Endorse Trump
description: The Texas Senator did not back the party&#x27;s nominee at the Republican National Convention on Wednesday
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article:published_time: 2016-07-21T12:00:25.000Z
article:modified_time: 2026-08-19T07:45:53.913Z
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![](https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt145f1a6a311663ff/69889d000a4a22f9a59ca8d0/ted-cruz-speech-convention.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9)


# Read the Speech Ted Cruz Gave When He Wouldn't Endorse Donald Trump

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![Julia Zorthian](https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt33d733b0e24d9d23/698a0b598fd2ee55d3360fed/julia-zorthian-author-photo.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1:1)

by 

[Julia Zorthian](https://time.com/author/julia-zorthian/)


![Julia Zorthian](https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt33d733b0e24d9d23/698a0b598fd2ee55d3360fed/julia-zorthian-author-photo.jpg?branch=production&width=96&quality=75&auto=webp)

## Julia Zorthian


Jul 21, 2016 12:00 PM UTC

![ted cruz speech convention](https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt145f1a6a311663ff/69889d000a4a22f9a59ca8d0/ted-cruz-speech-convention.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=3:2)

CLEVELAND, OH - JULY 20: Ted Cruz speaks on the third day of the Republican National Convention on July 20, 2016 at the Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, Ohio. An estimated 50,000 people are expected in Cleveland, including hundreds of prostesters and members of the media. (Photo by Tasos Katopodis/WireImage)

CLEVELAND, OH - JULY 20: Ted Cruz speaks on the third day of the Republican National Convention on July 20, 2016 at the Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, Ohio. An estimated 50,000 people are expected in Cleveland, including hundreds of prostesters and members of the media. (Photo by Tasos Katopodis/WireImage) Tasos Katopodis—WireImage

![Julia Zorthian](https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt33d733b0e24d9d23/698a0b598fd2ee55d3360fed/julia-zorthian-author-photo.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1:1)

by 

[Julia Zorthian](https://time.com/author/julia-zorthian/)


![Julia Zorthian](https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt33d733b0e24d9d23/698a0b598fd2ee55d3360fed/julia-zorthian-author-photo.jpg?branch=production&width=96&quality=75&auto=webp)

## Julia Zorthian


Jul 21, 2016 12:00 PM UTC

Texas Senator Ted Cruz’s speech at the Republican National Convention in Cleveland Wednesday night was missing one notable talking point: [an endorsement](http://time.com/4416260/republican-convention-ted-cruz-speech/) for the party’s presidential nominee, [Donald Trump](http://time.com/4397249/donald-trump-ted-cruz-meeting-rnc/).

In the speech that ran for more than 20 minutes, Cruz was able to take jabs at Hillary Clinton and position himself as a champion of conservative values. But as he delayed even saying Trump’s name, he was able to tell listeners, “vote your conscience.” The audience did not take warmly to his advice.

Read a [full transcript](http://time.com/4416396/republican-convention-ted-cruz-donald-trump-endorsement-speech-transcript-video/) of his convention speech below.

---

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