Former Speaker Newt Gingrich (R-Ga.) said Thursday that Sen. Ted Cruz Rafael (Ted) Edward CruzMurkowski: Supreme Court nominee should not be taken up before election Battle lines drawn on precedent in Supreme Court fight Sunday shows - Ruth Bader Ginsburg's death dominates MORE (R-Texas) has alienated any potential allies in the GOP by refusing to endorse Donald Trump Donald John TrumpBiden leads Trump by 36 points nationally among Latinos: poll Trump dismisses climate change role in fires, says Newsom needs to manage forest better Jimmy Kimmel hits Trump for rallies while hosting Emmy Awards MORE for president.

“This is so silly,” he said Thursday on “The Mike Gallagher Show." "This is the kind of move that led to Ted Cruz being totally isolated."

“If he goes back to the Senate retaining that kind of attitude, he will be utterly ineffective and have virtually nobody who will work with him,” Gingrich added. “This is just childish stuff. At some point in the American model, you’re supposed to say to the guy who beat you, ‘Great job, let’s see what we can do moving forward.’ ”

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Gingrich said Cruz should not have attended the Republican National Convention if he planned on snubbing Trump.

“Conventions are held in order to nominate somebody to win the presidency,” he said. "They’re not held to be a psychodrama for somebody."

“To show up, it’s like going to your neighbor’s garden party so you can pour acid on the petunias,” added Gingrich, who was among the contenders for Trump's VP. "If this is what he was going to do, he shouldn’t have come."

Gingrich said Cruz’s decision helps boost Democrat Hillary Clinton Hillary Diane Rodham ClintonBiden leads Trump by 36 points nationally among Latinos: poll Democratic super PAC to hit Trump in battleground states over coronavirus deaths Battle lines drawn on precedent in Supreme Court fight MORE’s chances of winning the White House.

“Cruz is in grave danger of becoming the guy who helped elect Hillary Clinton,” he said.

Cruz on late Wednesday declined to endorse Trump during his speech at the convention.

“Stand and speak and vote your conscience, vote for candidates up and down the ticket who you trust to defend our freedom and to be faithful to the Constitution,” he said in Cleveland.

Listeners jeered Cruz for refusing to back Trump, his former Republican presidential primary opponent.

Cruz on Thursday said he could not fully back Trump after their at-times bitter rivalry.