Fresh fault lines within the Republican establishment have surfaced following reports of leaked audio recordings in which US Senator Ted Cruz is heard sharply criticising senior figures in Donald Trump’s administration over trade policy and the stalled India–US tariff negotiations.
The nearly 10-minute recording, reportedly shared by a Republican source and dating back to early and mid-2025, is said to capture Cruz speaking candidly to private donors. In the audio, the Texas senator positions himself as a traditional, pro–free trade Republican, distancing his views from what he describes as the administration’s increasingly protectionist and isolationist approach.
Cruz is allegedly heard saying he has been “fighting” the White House to push through a trade agreement with India, blaming Vice President JD Vance and trade adviser Peter Navarro — and at times Trump himself — for blocking progress. His comments come amid prolonged India–US negotiations, which intensified after Washington imposed an additional 25% tariff on Indian goods over New Delhi’s continued oil trade with Russia, taking total US duties on some Indian exports to 50%.
Beyond India–US trade, the leaked audio reportedly highlights deeper ideological divisions within the Republican Party, which was largely pro–free trade before Trump’s rise. Cruz is said to recount how he and several Republican senators attempted to dissuade Trump from announcing the so-called “Liberation Day” tariffs in April 2025, warning that the move would fuel inflation, erode retirement savings and cost Republicans heavily in the 2026 midterm elections.
In one anecdote, Cruz describes a tense late-night phone call with Trump following the tariff announcement. He claims he warned the President that falling retirement accounts and rising grocery prices could lead to Republicans losing control of both the House and Senate, while also opening the door to sustained impeachment efforts. According to Cruz, Trump reacted angrily and dismissed the concerns. The senator is also heard mocking the “Liberation Day” branding, joking that anyone on his team using the phrase would be “fired immediately.”
India features prominently in Cruz’s criticism, with the senator reportedly expressing frustration over the lack of progress in bilateral talks and naming Navarro and Vance as key obstacles. He also accuses Vance of being influenced by conservative commentator Tucker Carlson, whom Cruz alleges promotes an anti-interventionist and antisemitic worldview.
Despite the tensions revealed in the recording, Trump has recently struck a more conciliatory tone on India–US relations. Speaking on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos, he praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi and said he was confident the two countries would eventually finalise a favourable bilateral trade deal. The White House has so far declined to comment on the authenticity of the leaked audio.
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