Texas Senator Ted Cruz was turned away from the luxury suite of Jewish billionaire Sheldon Adelson after he refused to endorse Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump in his speech at the Republican National Convention Wednesday night, Newsmax reports.
A former U.S. senator quoted in the reported said that Cruz approached the suite after his speech. An Adelson aide confirmed the Texas senator was denied access because he did not endorse Trump.
In his speech, Cruz congratulated Trump on becoming the nominee, then he urged voters to vote their conscience.
"Don't stay home in November. Stand, and speak, and vote your conscience, vote for candidates up and down the ticket who you trust to defend our freedom and be faithful to the Constitution," Cruz said.
Cruz, who challenged Trump for the Republican nomination before pulling out of the race, was later greeted with boos from GOP delegates for refusing to endorse Trump. His wife, Heidi, had to be escorted out by security.
On Thursday he refused to bow to Trump's victory, claiming he's not a "servile puppy."
Cruz had originally promised to support the Republican nominee, whomever it may be. But that was before Trump maligned Cruz's family.
"The day that was abdicated was the day this became personal," Cruz said. "I'm not going to get into criticizing or attacking Donald Trump, but I'll give you this response: I am not in the habit of supporting people who attack my wife and attack my father," he defended himself to the embarrassed Texas delegation.
Andy Abboud, an Adelson aide, said Cruz had an invitation to visit the Adelson family's suite, until his speech.
"When he didn't endorse, they were stunned and disappointed," the aide told CNN. "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."
Adelson declared his support for Trump in May, warning Americans that failure to elect Trump will result in a “third term” of President Barack Obama in the form of Hillary Clinton.