Christie to Cruz: Endorse Trump or be 'less of a person' Not endorsing would prove Cruz is not who "he presents himself to be for the American people," Christie said.

Ted Cruz must keep his word and endorse Donald Trump for president during his speech before the Republican National Convention, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie said on Wednesday.

And if the Texas senator and former GOP primary rival does not, Christie warned, he will show himself to be "less of a person than he presents himself to be for the American people."


"If you want to sign the pledge, adhere to the pledge, and I just think you're supposed to keep your word," Christie told CNN's Jake Tapper during a forum hosted by the group Americans for Peace, Prosperity and Security. Christie was referring to the pledge all candidates signed last year vowing to support the eventual nominee.

"And I think that's part of the problem and part of the continued friction. So I hope Ted Cruz gets up tonight when he speaks at the convention and keeps his word and endorses Donald Trump. He should," Christie said.

Christie then noted again that Cruz should do so, commenting, "especially the way he was kissing Donald's rear end for the first six months of the campaign, I mean all of us were kind of — right?" he said to laughter, as he referenced the joint Cruz-Trump rally together against the Iran deal on Capitol Hill last September.

"I mean seriously, they don't understand that Donald is not a politician. He thought Ted really meant it," Christie said. "He thought that Ted was being honest when he said all of these nice things about Donald. And then all of a sudden he starts attacking Donald and Donald called me and said, 'I thought this guy liked me.'"

Christie recalled telling Trump that Cruz "never liked you, are you kidding? He was faking it."