Ted Cruz: Five quotes from Republican presidential candidate's speech that reveal his core beliefs

Texas Senator is first among major figures from both parties

Ted Cruz has declared his intention to run for the White House

Texas Senator has become the first major figure from either party to declare his intention to run for the White House - vowing that he wanted to make America great again.

Mr Cruz officially announced his candidacy on Twitter and then followed up with a speech at Liberty University, the world's largest Christian college.

The 44-year-old is known as something a firebrand and a darling of the Tea Party who has frequently clashed with the Republican Party leadership.

(Reuters)

He is a social conservative who has denounced climate change, called for a scrapping of the federal tax collection service and proudly promoted his Christian beliefs. Here are five key quotes from today's speech:

Faith

"There are people who wonder if faith is real. I can tell you, in my family there’s not a second of doubt, because were it not for the transformative love of Jesus Christ, I would have been saved and I would have been raised by a single mom without my father in the household."

Low taxes

"Imagine innovation thriving on the Internet as government regulators and tax collectors are kept at bay and more and more opportunity is created."

Anti-immigration

"Instead of the lawlessness and the president’s unconstitutional executive amnesty, imagine a president that finally, finally, finally secures the borders."

Gun rights

"Instead of a government that works to undermine our Second Amendment rights, that seeks to ban our ammunition, imagine a federal government that protects the right to keep and bear arms of all law-abiding Americans."

Israel

"Instead of a president who boycotts Prime Minister Netanyahu, imagine a president who stands unapologetically with the nation of Israel."