Exclusive: In secret recordings, Cruz trashes Trump, Vance

[demmiblue]

Source: Axios

Sen. Ted Cruz, the Texas Republican eyeing a 2028 White House run, torched Vice President Vance and ridiculed President Trump's tariff policy during private meetings with donors, according to recordings obtained by Axios.

Why it matters: Cruz's rebukes, during two meetings last year, are some of the harshest criticisms of Trump and Vance by a fellow Republican since they took office a year ago.

The recordings — nearly 10 minutes in total — provide an unvarnished look at how Cruz is positioning himself as a traditional free trade, pro-interventionist Republican ahead of a possible 2028 primary campaign against the less hawkish Vance.

Zoom in: During his talks, Cruz cast Vance as a pawn of conservative podcaster Tucker Carlson. Cruz has accused Carlson of promoting antisemitism and an anti-Israel foreign policy in their well-publicized spats.

Read more: https://www.axios.com/2026/01/25/cruz-trump-vance-secret-tapes

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I’m guessing that someone from Cruz’s camp leaked this (with Cruz’s blessing).

[Ocelot II]

1. I'm sure a lot of GOPers are trash-talking Piggy behind his back.

They know he's a walking dumpster fire who's destroying their party, but they're too afraid to say so publicly. So they're quietly positioning themselves for a power grab for 2028 or when Satan calls him home, whichever comes first. Vance might think that with the help of the techbros' money he has the nomination in the bag but he's about as charismatic as a lump of cold oatmeal. He will have plenty of competition.

[dalton99a]

3. +1. The Christian white supremacists will not vote for Vance

[PatSeg]

5. Yes, no amount of money

will ever buy that man any charisma.

[Justice matters.]

10. Rep. Eric Swalwell: "My Republican colleagues are a joke. They're wrong."

The REPUBLICANS enable the Gardians Of Pedophiles who murder the rule of law.

[chicoescuela]

2. Maybe Rafael did authorize the release but I think he is mostly a chickenshit bastard.

[Ford_Prefect]

4. A bit too late Ted. You could have acted to stop him many times.

You're made from the same scum you call them out to be.

[2naSalit]

6. Is he...

Still waiting out the storm in SoCal?

[Prairie Gates]

7. Cruz 100% leaked this as first shot in 2028 GOP primary

He very foolishly thinks Trump will step aside.

[ificandream]

11. Cruz will also backstep this first chance he gets.

[lonely bird]

8. Sigh

Gutless turd=Ted Cruz

[Kid Berwyn]

9. Deport Ted Cruz

No good shit was born in Canada.

ETA for the culturally deprived:

[Polybius]

12. My take is that this makes Cruz worse than Vance

He's criticizing Vance because he's not pro-Israel enough. Cruz as President would be worse than Vance.

[Marie Marie]

13. He is so unlikable and useless as a Senator it is a miracle that he keeps getting reelected to Congress.

That R behind his name and the state voting for him explains a lot. My head and heart has to believe that even the stupid Republican voters would never vote for him in a national election. He would sink like DeSantis on the national stage.

[Wonder Why]

14. Don't you mean "not so secret"?

[J_William_Ryan]

15. "Cruz trashes Trump, Vance"

Like Trump and Vance, Cruz is a coward.

In fact, that’s true of every Republican who lacks the courage to stand against and oppose Trump.