Fresh cracks within the US political establishment have surfaced after leaked audio recordings revealed Senator Ted Cruz sharply criticising President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance over trade policy â and alleging that they played a role in stalling a potential IndiaâUS trade agreement.
According to an Axios report, the nearly 10-minute recordings date back to early and mid-2025 and capture the Texas Republican speaking candidly to private donors. In the conversations, Cruz describes himself as a traditional pro-free trade Republican and openly ridicules Trumpâs tariff-heavy economic approach.
đŽ Clash Over Tariffs
Cruz warned donors that Trumpâs tariff strategy could severely damage the US economy and even trigger political fallout, including impeachment risks. He recalled a tense, late-night call with the President in April 2025, shortly after the tariffs were announced.
The senator claimed Trump became furious during the discussion, shouting and using abusive language when lawmakers urged him to reconsider the policy.
âTrump was in a bad mood,â Cruz reportedly said, adding that he warned the President of electoral disaster if Americans saw retirement savings shrink while food prices surged.
According to Cruz, Trumpâs blunt response was: âF* you, Ted.â**
đźđł IndiaâUS Trade Deal Roadblock?
Cruz also alleged that efforts to finalise a trade deal with India were repeatedly blocked from within the administration. He told donors that White House adviser Peter Navarro, Vice President JD Vance, and at times even Trump himself, resisted moving forward on the agreement.
The senator said he had been âbattlingâ the White House to accept trade accords with friendly nations like India, arguing that such deals would strengthen economic ties and global partnerships.
đïž JD Vance and Tucker Carlson Link
In the recordings, Cruz went further by portraying JD Vance as politically aligned with conservative podcaster Tucker Carlson, whom he accused of pushing an isolationist and anti-interventionist worldview.
âTucker created JD,â Cruz said, calling Vance Carlsonâs protĂ©gĂ© and suggesting their foreign policy views are deeply intertwined.
While Cruz has publicly criticised Carlson before, the leaked audio marks one of the first times he directly connected Vance to Carlson behind closed doors.
đ Bigger Political Implications
The recordings highlight growing ideological divisions within the Republican camp â especially over trade, tariffs, and Americaâs global role â as political figures quietly position themselves ahead of the 2028 presidential race.
While neither the White House nor JD Vance has publicly responded to the leaked audio, the claims have added fuel to debates around US trade strategy and its impact on key partners like India.
