NOT A DRILL: Donald Trump is going to be the Republican Presidential nominee.

Donald Trump is the presumptive nominee of the Republican party, after rival Ted Cruz announced he was suspending his campaign.

After losing to Trump in the Indiana primary on Tuesday night, Cruz took to the stage to address his supporters.

“From the beginning I’ve said that I would continue on as long as there is a viable path to victory. Tonight I’m sorry to say it appears that path has been foreclosed,” Cruz said as the crowd shouted him down with howls of no.

“We gave it everything we got but the voters chose another path.”

And then he threw in the towel.

“With a heavy heart, but with boundless optimism for the long term future of our nation, we are suspending our campaign,” he said taking supporters by surprise.

“But hear me now: I am not suspending our fight for liberty. I am not suspending our fight to defend the constitution to defend the Judeo-Christian values that built America.

“Our movement will continue and I give you my word that I will continue this fight with all of my strength and all of my ability.”

While there is still one more Republican with their hat in the ring, John Kasich, Trump is well ahead on delegate numbers going into the Republican nominating convention and it seems impossible another candidate would clinch the nomination.

In his speech Cruz hinted that he did not think Trump would be able to win the general election, foreshadowing another run at the nomination in 2020.

Either way, Trump is now the man lost likely to be facing off against Hilary Clinton or Bernie Sanders in November.

It’s a surprising outcome, given just months ago his candidacy was considered a publicity stunt by many political observers.

Donald Trump addressed supporters a short time later, buoyed by the victory and confident that he can beat the Democratic nominee.

“We’re not going to lose. We’re going to start winning again and we’re going to win big league, believe me,” he said.

He immediately turned his focus to attacking Hilary Clinton, who is ahead in the Democratic primary, and likely to take the nomination.

“We’re going after Hilary Clinton. She will not be a great president. She will not be a good president. She will be a poor president. She doesn’t understand trade. Her husband signed the single worst trade deal in the world ever done,” Trump said.

Trump spent some time in the speech arguing that  international trade deals had ruined the American economy and foreshadowing a return to protectionist trade policy.

“We’re going to bring back our jobs and we’re going to keep our jobs,” he said.

And switching to the role of conciliator, he was generous in his praise of Cruz.

“Ted Cruz, I don’t know if he likes me or if he doesn’t like me but he is one hell of a competitor. He has got an amazing future,” he said.

“I understand how Ted feels and Heidi and their whole beautiful family. One tough competitor.”

Trump also brought up a recent poll that has him ahead of Clinton, saying he would win the general election.

“We’re going to win. We’re going to win in November. And we’re going to win big and it’s going to be America first.”

He foreshadowed an aggressive foreign policy stance.

“They have to treat us fairly and they have to understand that what we’ve been doing over the years has been so unfair to the United States.

“[Other countries are] going to respect us. They have to understand where we’re coming from,” he said.

“We are going to turn it around and we’re going to build up our military bigger, better, stronger than before.

“We’re going to take our ISIS… We can’t allow that cancer to continue.”

At this point the crowd went wild, chanting “Trump, Trump, Trump, Trump”.

In Trump’s America everyone will bake cakes filled with rainbows and smiles and everyone will eat it and be happy.

“This country which is very very divided in so many ways is going to become one beautiful loving country and we’re going to love each other and we’re going to cherish each other,” he said.

The Donald then brought it back around to what has been the central theme of his campaign: Making America great again. (A slogan he stole from Ronald Regan’s successful 1980 run at the White House.)

“We will make America great again. We will start winning again. You will be so proud of this country again very very soon.”