GOP CONVENTION | Gingrich felt obligated to explain Cruz remarks

CLEVELAND (AP)

Newt Gingrich says that when he took the stage at the Republican convention soon after Ted Cruz had given his speech, he felt obligated to explain Cruz's remarks.

Gingrich says he was trying to quell the uproar after the Texas senator ended his speech without endorsing Donald Trump. The crowd booed loudly as Cruz stepped away.

Gingrich says he took on the role of attempting to calm the crowd because, as he puts it, "the delegates were so angry, you needed the act of closure, or they couldn't shift to the next topic."

The former House speaker quieted the room, but he certainly didn't put to rest questions of whether Cruz would vote for Trump.