Senator Ted Cruz publicly offered support for President Trump’s cabinet selections during a television appearance, a gesture that now appears strikingly at odds with private sentiments revealed in recently surfaced recordings.
These recordings, obtained by a Republican source and shared with Axios, paint a picture of a Senator harboring deep reservations about both Trump and Vice President JD Vance, particularly as a potential 2028 presidential contender. The conversations with donors occurred within the first half of 2025, offering a glimpse into a politically charged atmosphere.
Cruz reportedly dismissed Vance as little more than a creation of former Fox News host Tucker Carlson, a figure with whom the Senator has a well-documented and acrimonious history. He characterized Vance as Carlson’s protégé, suggesting a lack of independent thought or conviction.
The criticism extended to Trump’s economic policies, specifically the imposition of tariffs. Cruz warned donors that these tariffs risked a significant economic downturn, potentially leading to Republican losses in Congress and even impeachment proceedings against the President.
A direct attempt to convey these concerns to Trump reportedly ended in a volatile phone call. According to Cruz, the President was already in a foul mood, a stark contrast to more amicable conversations they had previously shared.
Cruz recounted warning Trump of a looming “bloodbath” at the polls if economic conditions deteriorated, predicting substantial losses in both the House and Senate, and a relentless barrage of impeachment attempts. The President’s response was blunt and forceful: a direct expletive aimed at the Senator.
The recordings suggest a fundamental ideological clash between Cruz and the current administration, particularly regarding foreign policy. Axios reports Cruz is considering a 2028 run built on a neoconservative platform and opposition to Carlson’s influence, directly contrasting Vance’s more isolationist stance.
This potential challenge to Vance, and the underlying criticisms of Trump, reveal a strategic calculation by Cruz, but one fraught with risk. The recordings underscore a growing tension within the Republican party and hint at a potentially divisive primary battle to come.
The recordings suggest a belief that campaigns opposing the core tenets of the current Republican base are unlikely to succeed, raising questions about the viability of Cruz’s potential path to the presidency.
