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demmiblue

(39,355 posts) Sun Jan 25, 2026, 09:43 AM 2 hrs ago

Exclusive: In secret recordings, Cruz trashes Trump, Vance

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

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

9 replies

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Exclusive: In secret recordings, Cruz trashes Trump, Vance (Original Post) demmiblue 2 hrs ago OP

I'm sure a lot of GOPers are trash-talking Piggy behind his back. Ocelot II 2 hrs ago #1

+1. The Christian white supremacists will not vote for Vance dalton99a 2 hrs ago #3

Yes, no amount of money PatSeg 2 hrs ago #5

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

A bit too late Ted. You could have acted to stop him many times. Ford_Prefect 2 hrs ago #4

Is he... 2naSalit 1 hr ago #6

Cruz 100% leaked this as first shot in 2028 GOP primary Prairie Gates 1 hr ago #7

Sigh lonely bird 1 hr ago #8

Deport Ted Cruz Kid Berwyn 1 hr ago #9

Ocelot II

(129,524 posts)

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

Reply to demmiblue (Original post)

Sun Jan 25, 2026, 09:48 AM

2 hrs ago

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.