Texas Sen. Ted Cruz took the stage on the third day of the RNC. He began by congratulating Trump on securing the nomination. It was also the only time Cruz said the Republican nominee's name aloud. Cruz stopped short of endorsing Trump, instead saying that Republican values — not necessarily the candidate — should persevere in November. He pivoted to a short speech on freedom, attacking President Obama and Hillary Clinton, and said there was a "better future" for the country that involved "a return to freedom."