CLEVELAND, Ohio — Republican nominee Donald Trump said farewell to volunteers here, as the GOP wrapped up the nearly week long Republican National Convention.
“That was unity,” Trump stated of the convention with his running mate Indiana Gov. Mike Pence standing by his side. “The party has come together.”
“So many of the speakers were amazing,” he added, calling the convention “something very special.”
“We’re even getting good marks on television,” Trump joked, as the crowd cheered and laughed.
“It has been just an incredible four days. I want to thank the people of Cleveland and the people of Ohio because what they’ve done — we read two or three weeks ago [that] this is going to be horrible,” Trump stated, referencing the reports about rumored protesters and riots. “This was probably one of the most peaceful, one of the most beautiful, one of the most love filled conventions in the history of conventions.”
“I’m the best thing that ever happened to the secret service,” Trump said, after referencing how he praises them for their hard work. He also thanked the police in Cleveland.
Trump, however, didn’t sing praise for former 2016 GOP presidential candidate Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) who spoke prime time on Wednesday night, but didn’t endorse Trump.
“He may have ruined his political career,” Trump said of Cruz, who was booed out of the convention. “I don’t want his endorsement — what difference does it make?”
“Ted, stay home, relax, enjoy yourself,” Trump stated. He told the audience that he had read over Cruz’s speech prior to him taking the stage.
“You’re bound by the pledge,” like you’re bound by the speech, Trump stated — drawing a comparison to the pledge Cruz signed, but now broke, that he would support the Republican nominee. “So Ted Cruz took his speech and was done…then made a statement that wasn’t in the speech…to me that’s dishonorable.”
“Not signing a pledge is dishonorable,” he added, saying it’s “not a nice thing to do.”
“If he gives it, I will not accept it,” Trump said of Cruz’s endorsement, saying he should have endorsed, but that he doesn’t need the endorsement. “I didn’t start anything with the wife,” Trump said, saying Cruz lied about him going after his wife, Heidi Cruz. ” I know nothing about his father,” Trump added, as Cruz alleged Trump attacked his father as well.
Trump also criticized presumptive Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton, saying he expects her acceptance speech at the Democratic National Convention next week to be boring.
Earlier in the morning, in true Trump style, he tweeted his praise and appreciation for the volunteers and hard work that went into putting the convention together.