Presidential candidate Sen. Ted Cruz blasted President Obama for making major concessions to the Cuban government by normalizing relations, and said the U.S. has all but caved to Cuba.

"President Obama announced today he is continuing his policy of unconditional surrender to Fidel and Raul Castro by rewarding one of the most violently anti-American regimes on the planet with an embassy and an official representative of our government," the Texas Republican said.

Cruz has demanded the U.S. move its embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, and said Obama's decision not to do that but to open one in Havana was "unacceptable and a slap in the face" to Israel, according to The Hill.

Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., also said he would not consider confirming an ambassador to Cuba until the White House started working on issues there, such as the U.S. fugitives still in Cuba and the travel restrictions on American diplomats.

Cruz even went so far as to say he would administer a hold on the nominee until Obama "can demonstrate that he has made some progress in alleviating the misery" of people in Cuba."

While many Democrats support Obama's decision, Sen. Robert Menendez, D-N.J., said the agreement suggests that "democracy and human rights take a back seat to a legacy initiative." Some Republicans actually agree with the president's announcement, including Sens. Dean Heller of Nevada and Jeff Flake of Arizona, according to The Hill.