New Delhi, Jan. 25 -- Senator Ted Cruz (R-Texas) sharply criticized President Trump's tariff policy and derided Vice President JD Vance during private donor meetings in 2025, according to a report.

Axios said audio recordings obtained by it were made during two closed-door meetings with Republican donors in early and mid-2025 and were provided to Axios by a Republican source.

Cruz's remarks represent some of the harshest private criticisms of Trump and Vance by a fellow Republican since they took office a year ago.

The comments offer insight into how Cruz may be positioning himself as a free-trade, pro-interventionist Republican ahead of a potential 2028 presidential run.

According to Axios, Cruz warned donors that Trump's tariffs cou...