While Texas senator Ted Cruz addressed his fellow Republicans, he refused to indicatively endorse Donald Trump in 2016. Four years later, he was not even asked to speak at this year's Republican National Convention.

Cruz, who was engaged in a fierce rivalry with Trump during the Republican primary in 2016, opened up about not being invited to speak at this year's RNC during an interview with The New York Times. Although he wasn't included on the speakers' roster, Cruz said he would have been happy to speak at the convention.

Cruz and the then-GOP candidate Trump were engaged in a rivalry during the Republican primary. Before he dropped out of the race, Cruz accused Trump of being a pathological liar" and "serial philanderer," while Trump suggested Cruz's father was involved in John F. Kennedy's assassination.

Speaking at the Cleveland convention in 2016, Cruz congratulated Trump on winning the nomination, but did not conspicuously endorse him, and walked out from the stage to boos and heckles. "Vote your conscience," Cruz advised at the time, urging voters to vote for candidates up and down the ticket who they think will be able to defend the country's freedom and be faithful to the Constitution.

He finally endorsed Trump just two months after the convention, citing his pledge to appoint conservative judges in Sept. Striking a different not on Wednesday, Cruz praised the Trump administration for its remarkable policy successes of the last four years, including the historic economic boom before the coronavirus pandemic, and the 2017 tax overhaul, Fox News reported.

Republican senator's former aide, Amanda Carpenter suggests it could be savvy for him to not get involved in the political fray. Carpenter, who opposed Trump in the past, has said she thinks it is smart to remain tight-lipped and see how things shake out and pointed out that it is a noteworthy risk for speakers to pursue lofty goals for themselves, relying on Trump at the moment.

This week's RNC has focused primarily on the Trump administration's historic job numbers, as well as the low unemployment rate. Moreover, it is included criticism of the Chinese Communist Party for the coronavirus pandemic that led to an economic crisis and increased the number of unemployed people in America in March.

Cruz plans to release a book and host his own podcast this fall. He said his impending podcast and book release will serve as different means of protecting America's constitutional liberties.