Senator Ted Cruz is now in the hot seat after he was secretly recorded sharply criticizing President Trump and Vice President JD Vance in private chats with Republican donors, even as he continues to publicly present himself as a loyal GOP figure.
In the entire 10 minutes of that audio, Cruz mocks Trump's signature economic policy, which is the Liberation Day tariffs.
He warned that such sweeping tariffs would damage the economy and drain people's retirement accounts completely, push up prices of consumer products, and give rise to an entire Republican bloodbath in the 2026 midterm elections.
He then goes on to mention that he and other senators urged Trump to reconsider those tariffs, recounting a late-night phone call that didn't go down so well with Trump, reacting angrily and swearing at him.
Cruz also aimed privately at Vice President Vance, portraying him as a close ally and protege of conservative commentator Tucker Carlson. And suggested how their influence has shaped personnel decisions in the White House. Cruz also blamed Carlson and Vance for pushing out many White House officials.