Alleged secret recordings reportedly cite nearly 10 minutes of conversation that provide one of the clearest windows yet into Senator Ted Cruz’s behind-the-scenes opposition to Trump’s protectionist trade policy.
The remarks, made during two closed-door meetings in 2025, come as Trump escalates trade tensions with Canada, threatening a 100% tariff on all Canadian imports over alleged concerns tied to China.
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Secret Tapes Reveal Cruz’s Private Break with Trump on Tariffs
Reports indicate that Senator Ted Cruz privately warned donors that President Donald Trump’s sweeping tariff agenda could devastate the US economy and cost Republicans Congress.
In the tapes obtained by Axios, Cruz allegedly recounts a late-night call with Trump following the April 2025 tariff rollout, describing it as hostile and unproductive.
“Trump was in a bad mood,” Cruz allegedly told donors, adding that the president was “yelling” and “cursing” as senators urged him to stand down.
Cruz warned that the political and economic consequences could be severe. He told donors that if Americans head into the November 2026 elections with retirement accounts down sharply and grocery prices up “10–20%,” Republicans would face a “bloodbath.”
Reportedly, Cruz cautioned Trump directly that such an outcome could lead to the loss of both chambers of Congress and years of impeachment battles.
Trump’s response, Cruz said, was blunt insult to Senator Ted.
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The private rebukes stand in contrast to Cruz’s public posture as one of Trump’s strongest allies in the Senate.
“[The Senator remains] the president’s greatest ally in the Senate,” Axios reported, citing a Cruz spokesperson.
According to the spokesperson, the recordings are only attempts to “sow division.” Ted Cruz did not immediate respond to BeInCrypto’s request for comment.
Canada Tariff Threat Exposes GOP Rift on Trade, Crypto, and Power
The revelations land as Trump sharpens his rhetoric toward Canada, now threatening a 100% tariff on Canadian goods.
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According to analysis shared by political commentator Jaro Giesbrecht, the US imported roughly $400 billion in goods from Canada in 2025.
A blanket tariff, he warned, would function as an instant tax on US businesses and consumers, driving up energy costs, car prices, and inflation by as much as 1.5% to 2% almost overnight.
Trump’s shift reportedly followed remarks by Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney at the World Economic Forum in Davos, prompting Anthony Scaramucci to quip that “Carney has broken him.”
In the recordings, Cruz also repeatedly targets Vice President JD Vance, portraying him as a protégé of conservative commentator Tucker Carlson and accusing both of advancing an anti-interventionist foreign policy.
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“Tucker created JD,” Cruz allegedly said in one tape, tying the duo to internal fights over national security staffing and Iran policy.
Beyond politics, the dispute highlights a deeper ideological split within the Republican Party, one that intersects with crypto policy.
Cruz is among the most outspoken pro-Bitcoin lawmakers in Washington, advocating free markets, low energy costs, and minimal government interference. In 2024, he entered the Bitcoin mining industry by acquiring and operating three Bitcoin miners in Iraan, Texas.
He has backed legislation to use flared natural gas for Bitcoin mining, opposed central bank digital currencies, and warned that over-regulation and trade barriers could push innovation offshore.
For Cruz, tariffs are not just a political risk but an economic one. He has repeatedly described broad tariffs as “taxes on the American people,” arguing they undermine US competitiveness in energy, technology, and crypto. Notably, these are sectors where states like Texas have emerged as global hubs.
The secret recordings suggest that as Trump doubles down on trade nationalism, Cruz is positioning himself as a free-trade alternative.