Ted Cruz has endorsed Donald Trump for the US presidency less than five months after the Texan senator called the businessman and TV personality a “pathological liar” and “utterly amoral”.

In a statement to supporters on Friday, Mr Cruz said:

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Writing in a Facebook post, Mr Cruz went on to add that: “A year ago, I pledged to endorse the Republican nominee, and I am honoring that commitment. And if you don't want to see a Hillary Clinton presidency, I encourage you to vote for him."

The announcement was met with furore by most Republicans on social media.

However, there were some Republicans who supported Mr Cruz’s decision.

Meanwhile, Donald Trump spoke of his pleasure that Cruz had finally backed him.

"I am greatly honored by the endorsement of Senator Cruz," Trump said in a statement obtained by CNN. "We have fought the battle and he was a tough and brilliant opponent. I look forward to working with him for many years to come in order to make America great again”.

Trump's running mate, Mike Pence took to Twitter to welcome the announcment.

Pretty chummy eh? Well, not really. As people have been pointing out already, mutual animosity and insults have been the defining aspect of the relationship between the two men.

Only two months ago Trump said: “I don't want his endorsement. If he gives it, I will not accept it, just so you understand. If he gives it I will - I will not accept. It won't matter. Honestly he should've done it because nobody cares and he would've been in better shape for four years from now."

Back in May, Cruz called Trump a “pathological liar”, “utterly amoral,” and “a narcissist at a level I don't think this country's ever seen" as well “a serial philanderer”.

Cruz later went on to refuse to publicly endorse Trump at the Republican National Convention, telling delegates that: “I am not in the habit of supporting someone who attacks my wife and attacks my father” after Mr Trump accussed Mr Cruz’s father of being involved in the assassination of President Kennedy and retweeting a particularly unflattering photo of Heidi Cruz aside one of his ex-model wife, Melania, with the caption “A picture is worth a thousand words”.