While Democrats, led by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, rushed to impeach President Donald Trump on partisan lines, few Senators were more vocal in defending the nation's 45th commander in chief than Texas Republican Ted Cruz (R-Texas).

On Friday, Cruz was among 51 senators who voted not to needlessly prolong Trump's impeachment trial with additional witnesses beyond the 17 whose testimonies have already testified. In doing so, the Republicans appear to be on the brink of making history by acquitting Trump, the third time in history that a president has been exonerated in the Senate, which called for a measured celebration.

Accordingly, Cruz appeared to clap on the Senate floor during a recess, but not just any clap. The Texas Republican seemed to mock Pelosi's condescending clap at Trump in last year's State of the Union.

Cruz's "clap" went viral with the gesture prompting Republican media strategist Caleb Hull to ask his Twitter followers: "Who did it better?"

Trump will be acquitted next week

Most political observers agree that Trump is heading toward a major victory next week, as he will almost certainly be acquitted by the Senate within a few days.

As TheBlaze's Carlos Garcia reported Friday, even liberal CNN legal analyst Jeffrey Toobin has admitted the Senate impeachment trial has been a big win for the president.

"I mean you know he's gonna win this trial. He won on the issue of witnesses," he said. "He's going to get acquitted — and that's how history will remember what went on here."