MSNBC’s Joe Scarborough predicted Thursday that Sen. Ted Cruz (R., Texas) signed his death warrant for the 2020 presidential election after refusing to endorse Donald Trump at the Republican National Convention, comparing his actions to Chris Christie hugging President Obama in 2012 after Hurricane Sandy.
Cruz spoke Wednesday on the third night of the convention and refused to voice his support for Trump, instead urging the audience to vote for any candidate who will be faithful to the Constitution. His speech was met with boos from part of the audience, which began a "we want Trump" chant.
The Morning Joe panel discussed the repercussions Sen. Cruz may face following his speech. Co-host Scarborough defended Trump, now the the official Republican nominee, saying, "Trump has allowed everybody to come on stage, whether they endorsed him or not, and let them speak."
"You know, first, he gets booed on day one for shutting down the process, and then people are critical of him for letting somebody speak who doesn’t agree with him. I think it makes him look stronger," he added.
The panel emphasized that Cruz’s support should not come as a shock to Trump.
"This is the guy in Ted Cruz that Trump called lyin’ Ted Cruz every day for six months, who questioned whether or not Ted Cruz’s father was involved in the assassination of John F. Kennedy, who tweeted out pictures that suggested Heidi Cruz’s looks weren't as good as Melania’s looks," panelist Willie Geist said. "This was relentless."
Scarborough rounded out the discussion by comparing Cruz’s speech to Chris Christie’s actions in 2012
"Ted Cruz last night, make no mistake of it, cut himself off from getting the nomination in 2020. He just enraged 45 percent, 50 percent of the Republican Party. They won’t forget it, just like they didn’t forgive Chris Christie showing up for a couple minutes with Barack Obama after Hurricane Sandy," Scarborough said.