A top Republican National Committee official said Thursday he agreed with Rep. Pete King's assertion 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 was an "asshole."

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"I'd probably use the same verbiage," Sean Spicer said when asked if he agreed with King, who also called Cruz a "fraud" for 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 during his Republican National Convention speech a night earlier.

"I think that it is disappointing when somebody who is a leader in the conservative movement who knows what's at stake — I mean Ted Cruz, more than anybody, in terms of his background, knows what's at stake and chose to come here," Spicer continued.

"He could have just said, 'I'm not coming. I don't feel comfortable.' "

When asked if King should apologize for using vulgar language, Spicer dodged the question.

"Peter King's from New York, he uses very colorful language," Spicer said.

"I'll let him speak for himself."

Cruz on Wednesday told Republicans to vote their conscience and avoided endorsing Trump for president, drawing jeers from the delegates in Cleveland.

On Thursday, the Texas senator defended his decision, noting Trump had made personal attacks on Cruz's wife and father when they were rivals in the primary campaign.