Professional-Trump Sen. Ted Cruz is warning that the president’s steep and dramatic tariff will increase in opposition to nearly each nation on the planet might usher in a political “bloodbath” for Republicans within the 2026 cycle.
Cruz (R-Texas), 54, stated the suite of tariffs might spark a worldwide commerce conflict and in the end a recession that dangers Republicans dropping management of even the Senate regardless of a considerably favorable map.
“I’m seeing a lot of Republican cheerleaders reflexively defending what the White House is doing,” Cruz stated on his “Verdict” podcast Friday, noting {that a} commerce conflict “would destroy jobs here at home and do real damage to the US economy.”
“If we go into a recession, particularly a bad recession, 2026, in all likelihood politically, would be a bloodbath,” Cruz stated. “You would face a Democrat House, and you might even face a Democrat Senate.”
Cruz admitted that he’s “not a fan” of tariffs and hoped that Trump’s transfer is merely a negotiating ploy.
“A hundred years ago, the US economy didn’t have the leverage to have the kind of impact we do now. But I worry, there are voices within the administration that want to see these tariffs continue forever and ever,” he stated.
In contrast to a century in the past throughout the commerce conflict sparked by the Smoot-Hawley tariffs, the US has grow to be a internet importer, which some backers of Trump’s plan consider offers America vital leverage this time round. That’s as a result of international locations could wrestle to seek out ample demand for his or her items and providers elsewhere.
Cruz recounted a dialog he had with an American automotive producer who stated costs are estimated to go up by a median of $4,500 by June. The senators defined that he views tariffs as a tax on customers.
The Lone Star State Republican joins a rising refrain of GOPers jittery over Trump’s dramatic protectionist shift. Cruz warned that an financial system in freefall could be detrimental politically.
“If we’re in the middle of a recession and people are hurting badly, they punish the party in power,” Cruz contended, arguing that tariffs gained’t create “a booming economy.”
Republicans have a threadbare majority within the Home of Representatives. In response to latest historical past, the occasion in energy loses management of the decrease chamber throughout the first midterm election.
Within the Senate, the place the GOP has a 53-47 seat majority, Republicans have solely two weak seats. Democrats have additionally confronted a handful of retirements in Michigan, Minnesota and New Hampshire, resulting in GOP hopes that they’ll maintain onto the higher chamber.
“Look, I want this to succeed,” Cruz stated of the Trump tariff transfer. “But my definition of succeed may be different than the White House’s.”
Cruz’s model of success could be “dramatically decrease tariffs overseas and lead to dramatically decreasing tariffs right here.
“That’s success for the American workers, American businesses, American growth, American prosperity,” he stated.
Final week, Republican Sens. Rand Paul (R-Ky.), Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), Susan Collins (R-Maine) and Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) voted to overturn Trump’s tariffs in opposition to Canada.
Later within the week, Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) launched laws alongside Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.) to claw again the president’s powers on tariffs.
There at the moment are a minimum of half a dozen Republican senators backing that laws.
Nonetheless, the measure is a far cry away from the extent of help it might have to override an all-but-certain veto from Trump.
