Senator Ted Cruz of Texas has reportedly voiced his private apprehensions about policies linked to former President Donald Trump, specifically focusing on tariff measures and internal Republican dynamics. The disclosures stem from recorded discussions held with political donors in the previous year, during which Cruz elaborated on the possible economic ramifications of the tariff approach and expressed criticism of Vice President JD Vance’s close ties to conservative media figure Tucker Carlson.
In recordings that extend close to ten minutes and were made available to Axios through a Republican insider, Cruz outlines a scenario where the tariffs imposed under Trump’s administration could precipitate serious economic difficulties. He cautioned that such measures could lead to substantial downturns in financial markets as well as increased costs for consumers. He emphasized the vulnerability of retirement investment portfolios and household budgets to these prolonged economic shocks, suggesting that their negative impact might jeopardize Republican control of Congress come the 2026 elections. Furthermore, Cruz indicated that sustained political fallout could expose Trump to repeated impeachment pursuits.
During these conversations, Cruz recounted a tense late-night telephone conversation with former President Trump, which occurred shortly after the tariff announcement in April 2025. Cruz and other senators had attempted to persuade Trump to reconsider the tariff strategy. However, Cruz described the interaction as confrontational, noting specifically that Trump was in a "bad mood," and that the discussion did not proceed constructively.
Beyond the economic discourse, Cruz also directed pointed criticism at Vice President JD Vance, framing him as aligned with Tucker Carlson’s conservative media perspective and opposing the established Republican approach to foreign policy. Cruz positioned himself distinctly as a proponent of free trade and an interventionist foreign policy, contrasting this with Vance’s skepticism toward U.S. involvement abroad.
Additional points of contention detailed by Cruz involve Vance and Carlson's influence over national security personnel decisions within the administration. He attributed the removal of officials who advocated more assertive policies towards Iran and support of Israel to pressure from these figures, citing the ouster of former National Security Adviser Mike Waltz as an example, stating, “Tucker and JD took Mike out.”
Cruz also revealed moments of tension with the White House over trade policy, specifically in relation to pursuing agreements with India. He named economic adviser Peter Navarro alongside Vance as individuals resistant to this initiative, with Trump occasionally exhibiting similar reluctance.
Despite the candid nature of these accounts, a spokesperson for Senator Cruz maintained that he remains a steadfast supporter of Trump’s agenda in the Senate and actively works to promote it. Tucker Carlson publicly refuted any involvement in the personnel changes referenced by Cruz. Requests for comment from the White House, Senator Cruz, and Tucker Carlson had not been immediately returned.
This collection of insights offers a glimpse into the complex and often discordant interactions among leading figures in the Republican Party, revealing contrasting views on economic strategy and foreign policy approaches that could influence forthcoming political developments.