Gary Johnson says Ted Cruz's Trump snub is really an endorsement of Gary Johnson

Libertarian party candidate Gary Johnson.

(Image credit: Getty Images)

published 21 July 2016

Libertarian presidential nominee Gary Johnson is pretty sure that when Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) told the Republican National Convention to "vote your conscience," what he meant to say was "vote for Gary Johnson." In an interview with CNN's Chris Cuomo on Thursday morning, the former New Mexico governor clarified just how big of an opportunity he thinks Cruz's refusal to endorse Trump might have created for him.

"Well he did say to vote for Gary Johnson didn't he, and that was vote your conscience," Johnson said, promptly breaking out in self-satisfied laughter.

Cuomo surfaced an alternative explanation, mentioning that former House Speaker Newt Gingrich had interpreted Cruz's remark as an endorsement of Trump, since Trump is "the only candidate in the race who will uphold the Constitution." Johnson responded by saying that he, too, "certainly would uphold the Constitution" — and then proceeded to remind Cuomo about Trump's plans to make it easier to sue the media. "First Amendment?" Johnson said. "What's that? First Amendment, that's in the Constitution of the United States."