CLEVELAND — Texas Sen. Ted Cruz should not have been allowed to speak at the Republican National Convention, U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe told the Oklahoma delegation Thursday morning.

“Cruz should not have been there,” Inhofe said. “That was something that shouldn’t have happened.”

Cruz was given 30 prime time minutes during Wednesday’s program, presumably to endorse Trump, but never did. This ignited an uproar culminating in delegates booing Cruz off the stage.

“I was asked if I was surprised,” Inhofe said. “I said ‘No, because I know Ted Cruz.’ ”

Cruz was Trump’s closest rival for the nomination and is thought to be already angling for the 2020 nomination should Trump lose in November.

On Thursday, Cruz reportedly refused again to say whether he will vote for Trump. The issue is important to Republicans who believe the party’s primary objective should be defeating Democrat Hillary Clinton.

Oklahoma delegates, arriving back at their hotel after midnight, gathered in the lobby to rehash Wednesday’s session.