Leaked audio reveals Ted Cruz’s sharp criticism of Trump’s tariff policy

Fresh controversy has erupted in Washington after a leaked audio recording purportedly featuring Republican Senator Ted Cruz revealed sharp criticism of US President Donald Trump’s economic and trade policies, including his stance on India. The development comes amid repeated threats by Trump to impose tariffs on Indian goods.

The 10-minute audio clip, said to have been leaked by an insider within the Republican Party, is believed to date back to early 2025. In the recording, Cruz is reportedly heard speaking candidly to a group of private donors, portraying himself as a proponent of free trade and a non-interventionist Republican.

During the conversation, Cruz is highly critical of Trump’s tariff-driven economic agenda, warning that it could have severe political consequences. He is reportedly heard saying that if Trump’s tariff policies destabilise the US economy and drive up inflation, the President could face impeachment and removal from office.

According to the leaked audio, Cruz also blamed three senior figures for the delay in finalising a trade agreement between India and the United States. He named Vice President JD Vance, White House trade adviser Peter Navarro and President Trump himself. “I am fighting inside the White House to make a trade deal with India, but these three are blocking it,” Cruz reportedly said.

The recording further suggests that when Trump began imposing tariffs on several countries in April 2025, Cruz and other Republican lawmakers urged him to reconsider the decision. 

A meeting on the issue reportedly stretched late into the night, during which Trump allegedly lost his temper and used abusive language towards the lawmakers. 

Cruz is reportedly heard warning that if public savings were eroded and inflation rose to 20 per cent by 2026, the Republican Party would lose control of both the House of Representatives and the Senate and face repeated impeachment efforts.

In the audio, Cruz—who is widely believed to be preparing for a bid in the 2028 presidential election—also criticises Vice President JD Vance’s foreign policy outlook, describing him as a follower of conservative commentator Tucker Carlson.