{"id":2551349,"date":"2026-01-25T12:54:01","date_gmt":"2026-01-25T17:54:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/recordings-reveal-cruz-ripping-trump-vance-to-donors-report\/"},"modified":"2026-01-25T12:55:36","modified_gmt":"2026-01-25T17:55:36","slug":"recordings-reveal-cruz-ripping-trump-vance-to-donors-report","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/recordings-reveal-cruz-ripping-trump-vance-to-donors-report\/","title":{"rendered":"Recordings reveal Cruz ripping Trump, Vance to donors: Report"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">18<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Frecordings-reveal-cruz-ripping-trump-vance-to-donors-report%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2551349&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>Secret recordings given to Axios capture Sen. Ted cruz privately criticizing President Donald Trump and Vice President J.D.Vance during two donor meetings last year. In roughly 10 minutes of conversation, Cruz attacked Trump\u2019s tariff agenda\u2014mocking the \u201cLiberation Day\u201d rhetoric, warning tariffs would tank 401(k)s, raise prices, and cost Republicans control of Congress\u2014and recounted a heated private exchange in wich Trump replied, \u201cF*** you, Ted.\u201d Cruz also portrayed Vance as a prot\u00e9g\u00e9 and pawn of Tucker carlson and criticized Vance\u2019s foreign-policy positions. The remarks contrast with Cruz\u2019s usually public praise of Trump and have prompted analysts to say cruz might potentially be repositioning himself as a free-trade, interventionist Republican ahead of a possible 2028 presidential run.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Secret recordings reveal Cruz ripping Trump and Vance to donors: Report<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_2467049\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p>Sen. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/ted-cruz\/\">Ted Cruz<\/a> (R-TX) was reportedly caught criticizing President <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/donald-trump\/\">Donald Trump<\/a> and Vice President JD Vance to donors in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/cnn-guest-refuses-to-take-the-bait-contradicts-don-lemon-on-slavery\/\" title=\"CNN Guest Refuses To Take The \u2018Bait,\u2019 Contradicts Don Lemon On Slavery\">secret recordings<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>In comments made to donors at two separate meetings last year, Cruz had choice words for Trump and Vance, markedly different than the praise he usually heaps on them publicly. Two secret recordings of his comments were <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.axios.com\/2026\/01\/25\/cruz-trump-vance-secret-tapes\">provided to<\/a> <em>Axios<\/em>, amounting to roughly 10 minutes of conversation in total. His <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >harsh comments primarily related<\/a> to Trump&rsquo;s tariff policy and Vance&rsquo;s foreign policy stances and relationship to Tucker Carlson.<\/p>\n<div class=\"recommended-stories\">\n<h2>Recommended Stories<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/senate\/4432706\/senate-democrats-derail-appropriations-passage-minneapolis-shooting\/\">Senate Democrats gear up to derail appropriations passage after fatal shooting in Minneapolis<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/senate\/4431705\/crockett-james-talarico-collide-in-texas-primary-debate\/\">Firebrand vs. pastor: Jasmine Crockett and James Talarico to collide in Texas primary debate<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/senate\/4432163\/senate-postpones-vote-ahead-of-snowmageddon-winter-storm\/\">Senate postpones vote ahead of massive &#8216;snowmageddon&#8217; winter storm<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>Cruz painted Vance as a pawn of Carlson, <em>Axios<\/em> reported, amid the Texas Republican&rsquo;s prolonged public scuffle with the journalist and podcast host.<\/p>\n<p><strong><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/immigration\/4432001\/trump-administration-messaging-ice-at-odds-public-support\/\">TRUMP ADMINISTRATION MESSAGING ON ICE AT ODDS WITH PUBLIC SUPPORT<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Tucker created JD. JD is Tucker&rsquo;s prot&eacute;g&eacute;, and they are one and the same,&rdquo; Cruz reportedly said.<\/p>\n<p>Cruz has accused Carlson of peddling <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/tedcruz\/status\/1989051088524439760?s=20\">antisemitism<\/a>, <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/tedcruz\/status\/1991617918619250830?s=20\">celebrating<\/a> Nazi Germany, and <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/tedcruz\/status\/1993452529187959268?s=20\">supporting<\/a> all the U.S.&rsquo;s adversaries.<\/p>\n<p>Regarding Trump, Cruz mocked Trump&rsquo;s usage of the term &ldquo;Liberation Day&rdquo; about tariffs, saying, &ldquo;I&rsquo;ve told my team if anyone uses those words, they will be terminated on the spot. That is not language we use.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>He relayed a private argument the two had over Trump&rsquo;s tariff policies, with Cruz claiming it would devastate the economy.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Mr. President, if we get to November of [2026] and people&rsquo;s 401(k)s are down 30% and prices are up 10&ndash;20% at the supermarket, we&rsquo;re going to go into Election Day, face a bloodbath,&rdquo; Cruz said.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;You&rsquo;re going to lose the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/house-of-representatives\/\">House<\/a>, you&rsquo;re going to lose the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/senate\/\">Senate<\/a>, you&rsquo;re going to spend the next two years being impeached every single week,&rdquo; he added.<\/p>\n<p>By Cruz&rsquo;s account, Trump responded, <strong>&ldquo;<\/strong>F*** you, Ted.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>The <em>Washington Examiner<\/em> reached out to Cruz for comment.<\/p>\n<p><strong><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/world\/4423434\/cruz-american-history-acquiring-lands-defending-trump-greenland-effort\/\">CRUZ CITES AMERICA&rsquo;S &lsquo;HISTORY OF ACQUIRING NEW LANDS&rsquo; IN DEFENDING TRUMP&rsquo;S GREENLAND PUSH<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>After an infamously personal and ugly primary against Trump in 2016, Cruz repositioned himself as one of the president&rsquo;s biggest allies in the Senate. Any criticism of Trump after 2016 has been exceedingly rare, but the alleged recording shows his <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/freedom-caucus-at-10-years-rebels-become-trumps-top-supporter\/\" title=\"Freedom Caucus at 10 ...s: Rebels become ...&#039;s top supporter\">support isn&#038;rsquo<\/a>;t as unconditional as publicly shown.<\/p>\n<p>Analysts believe Cruz is positioning himself for a <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/2028-elections\/\">2028 White House run<\/a>, 12 years after his previously unsuccessful attempt. His comments show that he may be looking to portray himself as a classical free-trade, interventionist Republican of the pre-Trump era. One of the aspects of his relationship with Trump that Cruz told donors about was his &ldquo;battling&rdquo; with the administration to push a free trade agreement with India.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Cruz secretly criticized Trump and Vance to donors<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2653,"featured_media":2551350,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/AP25323660828275.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[32319,35138,71875,47161,32090],"class_list":["post-2551349","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-donald-trump","tag-j-d-vance","tag-leaked-recordings","tag-republican-infighting","tag-ted-cruz"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/AP25323660828275.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2551349","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2653"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2551349"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2551349\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2551353,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2551349\/revisions\/2551353"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2551350"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2551349"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2551349"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2551349"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}