Leaked audio: Cruz says he’s battling White House to seal India trade deal
Leaked audio: Cruz says he’s battling White House to seal India trade deal
Leaked recordings reveal Ted Cruz accusing White House aides of blocking a trade deal with India, amid tariff tensions.
A set of purported leaked audio recordings has spotlighted renewed tensions inside the Republican camp as lawmakers push for a trade deal with India. Ted Cruz, a Texas senator and chair of the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, is heard telling donors that he and other Republicans were battling the White House to seal a trade pact with New Delhi. The recordings allege Cruz blamed White House trade adviser Peter Navarro, Vice President JD Vance and President Donald Trump for blocking the agreement.
The clips recount Cruz and allies urging Trump not to impose what is described as the Liberation Day tariffs on countries around the world in April last year, while outlining the political cost of tariffs on Americans. The conversation notes a tough stance on tariffs even as the two countries have long been seen as natural allies with shared interests, including a large Indian-American community in Texas.
The audio also touches on tariff actions that critics say complicate negotiations, with Cruz recalling that Trump imposed 25 percent tariffs on India in 2025, later doubling them to 50 percent months later in August, citing New Delhi's oil trade ties with Moscow. The exchanges reportedly remind listeners of Cruz’s past remarks during a 2019 India visit, where he highlighted the close ties and shared goals between the two nations. The leak underscores the difficulty of aligning U.S. policy with allies while managing domestic political pressures ahead of future elections.
As the 2028 presidential field begins to take shape, Cruz’s comments are seen by observers as a window into the strategic calculations and infighting that can surface when foreign policy intersects with party politics and tariff strategy.
