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demmiblue

(39,538 posts) Sun Jan 25, 2026, 09:43 AM Jan 25

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).

15 replies

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Highlight:

Exclusive: In secret recordings, Cruz trashes Trump, Vance (Original Post) demmiblue Jan 25 OP

I'm sure a lot of GOPers are trash-talking Piggy behind his back. Ocelot II Jan 25 #1

+1. The Christian white supremacists will not vote for Vance dalton99a Jan 25 #3

Yes, no amount of money PatSeg Jan 25 #5

Rep. Eric Swalwell: "My Republican colleagues are a joke. They're wrong." Justice matters. Jan 25 #10

Maybe Rafael did authorize the release but I think he is mostly a chickenshit bastard. chicoescuela Jan 25 #2

A bit too late Ted. You could have acted to stop him many times. Ford_Prefect Jan 25 #4

Is he... 2naSalit Jan 25 #6

Cruz 100% leaked this as first shot in 2028 GOP primary Prairie Gates Jan 25 #7

Cruz will also backstep this first chance he gets. ificandream Jan 25 #11

Sigh lonely bird Jan 25 #8

Deport Ted Cruz Kid Berwyn Jan 25 #9

My take is that this makes Cruz worse than Vance Polybius Jan 25 #12

He is so unlikable and useless as a Senator it is a miracle that he keeps getting reelected to Congress. Marie Marie Jan 25 #13

Don't you mean "not so secret"? Wonder Why Jan 25 #14

"Cruz trashes Trump, Vance" J_William_Ryan Jan 25 #15

Ocelot II

(130,013 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

Jan 25

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

(93,286 posts)

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

Reply to Ocelot II (Reply #1)

Sun Jan 25, 2026, 09:54 AM

Jan 25

PatSeg

(52,819 posts)

5. Yes, no amount of money

Reply to Ocelot II (Reply #1)

Sun Jan 25, 2026, 10:14 AM

Jan 25

will ever buy that man any charisma.

Justice matters.

(9,628 posts)

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

Reply to Ocelot II (Reply #1)

Sun Jan 25, 2026, 01:13 PM

Jan 25

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

chicoescuela

(2,917 posts)

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

Reply to demmiblue (Original post)

Sun Jan 25, 2026, 09:53 AM

Jan 25

Ford_Prefect

(8,557 posts)

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

Reply to demmiblue (Original post)

Sun Jan 25, 2026, 10:10 AM

Jan 25

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

2naSalit

(101,579 posts)

6. Is he...

Reply to demmiblue (Original post)

Sun Jan 25, 2026, 10:23 AM

Jan 25

Still waiting out the storm in SoCal?

Prairie Gates

(7,695 posts)

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

Reply to demmiblue (Original post)

Sun Jan 25, 2026, 10:39 AM

Jan 25

He very foolishly thinks Trump will step aside.

ificandream

(11,820 posts)

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

Reply to Prairie Gates (Reply #7)

Sun Jan 25, 2026, 01:40 PM

Jan 25

lonely bird

(2,859 posts)

8. Sigh

Reply to demmiblue (Original post)

Sun Jan 25, 2026, 10:54 AM

Jan 25

Gutless turd=Ted Cruz

Kid Berwyn

(23,924 posts)

9. Deport Ted Cruz

Reply to demmiblue (Original post)

Sun Jan 25, 2026, 11:15 AM

Jan 25

No good shit was born in Canada.

ETA for the culturally deprived:

Polybius

(21,733 posts)

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

Reply to demmiblue (Original post)

Sun Jan 25, 2026, 01:56 PM

Jan 25

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

Marie Marie

(11,130 posts)

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

Reply to demmiblue (Original post)

Sun Jan 25, 2026, 03:06 PM

Jan 25

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

(6,736 posts)

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

Reply to demmiblue (Original post)

Sun Jan 25, 2026, 04:17 PM

Jan 25

J_William_Ryan

(3,438 posts)

15. "Cruz trashes Trump, Vance"

Reply to demmiblue (Original post)

Sun Jan 25, 2026, 04:18 PM

Jan 25

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.

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