Adelson Shuns Cruz After He Fails to Endorse Trump in Convention Speech

Once a supporter of the Texas senator, Sheldon Adelson has thrown his weight behind Donald Trump.

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Former Republican U.S. presidential candidate Senator Ted Cruz speaks during the third night of the Republican National Convention in Cleveland, Ohio, U.S. July 20, 2016.
Mike Segar, Reuters

Sheldon Adelson refused to meet with Ted Cruz after the conservative Texas senator failed to endorse Donald Trump in a controversial speech to the Republican convention, several media outlets reported.

The billionaire Republican donor and his wife, Miriam, barred Cruz from the suite where they watched Cruz’s speech, which was greeted by boos, CNN first reported.

The snub was a remarkable twist in a convention that has been filled with turmoil and highlights the deep and bitter splits within the GOP.

Cruz had assiduously courted the Adelsons, who have bankrolled conservative Republicans to the tune of millions. A strong supporter of Israel’s right wing government, he hoped to win Adelson’s endorsement during the nasty primary fight and reportedly had Miriam Adelson on his side.

But Adelson is backing Trump — and underlined that support last night in Cleveland.

Much like other Trump supporters, Adelson apparently was angered by Cruz’s speech that pointedly avoided an endorsement of the Donald.

Throngs erupted in loud boos and interrupted Cruz with chants demanding that he back Trump, but Cruz, who engaged in a bare-knuckles primary war with Trump, refused to cave.

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