Tony Perkins speaks during the Values Voter Summit in 2013. | AP Photo Tony Perkins endorses Ted Cruz

Tony Perkins, the evangelical president of the Family Research Council, has endorsed Ted Cruz for president.

Speaking to Megyn Kelly on Fox News' "The Kelly File" on Tuesday night, Perkins said, "Ted is a constitutional conservative who will fight for faith, family and freedom. He will defend our right to believe and live according to those beliefs. Our families will be protected and freedom will once again mean something in America.”


Perkins saw his endorsement of Cruz as personal.

"I know him. I’ve worked with him. I’ve watched him in the Senate.”

Kelly pushed back, bringing up Republican front-runner Donald Trump’s often-stated criticism against Cruz that his demeanor in the Senate is not fit for the Oval Office.

“If everyone gets along with you in this city, you’re in trouble," Perkins said. “That means you’re not doing anything worthwhile.”

"I trust Ted to fight to pull America out of the political and cultural tailspin that President Obama’s policies have put us in. This is no normal election; this election is about the very survival of our Constitution and our republic,” Perkins added.

“He’s done exactly what he said he was going to do when he ran for United States Senate,” he said, adding, “I supported him when he was an underdog against some friends. I believe he’s the right guy to lead this country forward.”

Perkins moved on to address Cruz’s closest Republican opponent.

“Donald Trump, there are things about him that are attractive,” Perkins said in explaining that his endorsement was not meant as a slight against Trump.

“I’m not going to say anything negative about Donald Trump.”

Earlier in the month, Trump blamed Perkins for his misuse of "two Corinthians" when referring the Bible verse “Second Corinthians" during a speech at Liberty University. He claimed Perkins had advised him about what to say prior to the speech.

"Tony Perkins wrote that out for me — he actually wrote out 2, he wrote out the number 2 Corinthians," Trump said.

Despite questions raised about Trump’s commitment to Christianity, the Republican front-runner received the endorsement of Liberty University President Jerry Falwell Jr. on Tuesday.

Perkins also touted Cruz’s deep familiarity with the law as a selling point, emphasizing that the next president could appoint two or three new Supreme Court justices.

“Leadership is not all about making deals but standing on principle, about respecting the Constitution,” he said.

"Ted understands the Constitution and the Supreme Court better than any candidate in this race. He has argued nine cases before the U.S. Supreme Court and has authored 70 Supreme Court briefs.”

Perkins, 52, took over as president of the Family Research Council in 2003 after a career serving as a state representative in the Louisiana House and as a Senate candidate in 2002. His organization is widely focused on pro-family issues, and he has since been vocal as an activist against LGBT causes, calling California’s Proposition 8 “more important than the presidential election.”