In one of the recordings made in early and mid-2025, Republican Senator Ted Cruz could be heard warning donors that Trump’s tariffs could severely hurt the US economy and even lead to his impeachment.
File image of PM Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump (ANI)
A US Senator, who is aiming for a Republican nomination for the 2028 US Presidential Election, has slammed Vice President JD Vance and even President Donald Trump for the current administration’s tariffs-driven trade policy. Senator Ted Cruz spoke against Vance and Trump during private meetings with donors and even criticised them over the stalled India-US free trade deal, reported US media outlet Axios, citing recordings accessed by it.
Cruz made the sharp remarks against the administration’s top two leaders at two meetings last year. In the recordings which total about 10 minutes, Cruz described Vance as a pawn of conservative podcaster Tucker Carlson, whom he has already accused of promoting antisemitism and anti-Israel policy.
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In one of the recordings made in early and mid-2025, Cruz can be heard warning donors that Trump’s tariffs could severely hurt the US economy and even lead to his impeachment.
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Axios reports that several senators, including Cruz, called Trump after the introduction of his tariffs in April 2025. The call, reportedly, did not go well. The President was asked to reverse his policy, who, in turn, yelled and cursed. Cruz told the donors later that the President was “in a bad mood”.
The Republican Senator is reported to have told Trump: “Mr. President, if we get to November of [2026] and people’s 401(k)s are down 30% and prices are up 10–20% at the supermarket, we’re going to go into Election Day, face a bloodbath. You’re going to lose the House, you’re going to lose the Senate, you’re going to spend the next two years being impeached every single week.”
Trump responded by cursing Cruz: “F**k you, Ted.”
Importantly, Cruz said at the donors meeting about “battling” the Trump administration to finalise a trade deal with India. When asked at the meeting who in the White House was resistant to accepting such agreements, Cruz reportedly mentioned WH economic adviser Peter Navarro, VP Vance and “sometimes” President Trump.
The Trump administration has so far not reacted to these claims and revelations.
Officially, the US has maintained that it remains engaged with India to finalise the trade deal.
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