A leaked audio recording has revealed Republican Senator Ted Cruz criticizing Vice President JD Vance, White House trade advisor Peter Navarro, and former President Donald Trump for obstructing a proposed trade agreement with India. The recording, which is nearly 10 minutes long, captures Cruz speaking candidly to private donors during meetings in early and mid-2025. Axios reported the existence of the audio and confirmed its authenticity through independent sources, although the recording itself has not been publicly released.
In the audio, Cruz, a Texas Republican and long-time advocate for free trade, told donors that he had been "battling" the White House to advance the India-US trade deal. When asked who was resisting the agreement, Cruz named Navarro, Vance, and "sometimes" Trump. He also criticized the administration's focus on tariffs, warning that broad import duties could harm the U.S. economy and have serious political consequences.
Cruz reportedly ridiculed Trump's tariff policies, recalling a late-night call with Trump and other Republican senators shortly after the April 2025 tariff announcements, during which they urged the former President to reconsider. He described the discussion as tense, stating that Trump was in a bad mood. Cruz warned Trump that tariffs could lead to higher prices and damage retirement savings accounts for Americans, potentially leading to Republican losses in the House and Senate in the 2026 midterm elections.
The senator's criticism comes amidst uncertainty surrounding the India-U.S. trade deal, with tariffs on Indian exports to the U.S. at 50% for nearly five months. Trade negotiations between officials from both countries have been ongoing since before the tariffs took effect, with formal talks beginning in March-April of last year after a February green light for discussions. Despite the obstacles, Trump expressed confidence in Davos earlier this week, praising Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and stating that India and the U.S. "are gonna have a good deal".
Cruz is portrayed as a classic free-trade Republican. In the leaked audio, Cruz reportedly takes aim at Vance, characterizing him as influenced by conservative podcaster Tucker Carlson, with whom Cruz has a history of disagreements, even accusing Carlson of anti-Semitism and anti-Israel views.
