Texas Senator Ted Cruz warned that the tariffs declared by Trump could turn into a “bloodbath” for Republicans.

Senator Ted Cruz from Texas cautioned that if the customs tariffs referred to by President Donald Trump as “Independence Day” lead to a recession, Republicans could experience a “complete disaster” in the 2026 midterm elections. Cruz also stated that if these tariffs remain in effect for a long time and other countries retaliate against American products, a full-scale trade war could begin, causing “serious harm to the US economy.” Cruz expressed concern that the US economy did not have the power to be so effective a hundred years ago. However, he emphasized that there are voices in the administration that want these tariffs to last forever.

TARIFF DISCOMFORT WITHIN REPUBLICAN RANKS

Cruz’s remarks underscored the unease within Republican ranks regarding the global imposition of “mutual” tariffs on imported goods. On the Verdict podcast program, Cruz mentioned that in the long run, tariffs and trade retaliations could push the US into “particularly severe recession,” thereby stating that “2026 is politically a complete bloodbath.”

“I DON’T SHARE THE SAME VIEW WITH THE WHITE HOUSE”

Cruz stated, “We may find ourselves face to face with a House of Representatives dominated by Democrats, and maybe a Democratic Senate. If we are in an economic downturn and people are facing serious hardships, they will punish the party in power.” Additionally, Cruz emphasized that he does not share the White House’s view that tariffs would create a “booming economy.” The Republican Senator also stated that if every country in the world imposes retaliatory tariffs against the US and if Trump’s “mutual” tariffs remain in place, it would have “very bad consequences” and “cause serious harm to the US economy.” Cruz also described his success criterion as “the serious reduction of tariffs abroad and consequently the significant reduction of tariffs in the US”: “This would be a victory for American workers, businesses, growth, and prosperity,” he added. “That would be a great outcome.”

REPUBLICAN DIVISION ON TARIFFS

Meanwhile, within the Republicans, there is a general consensus on providing resources for extending Trump’s tax cuts implemented in 2017, as well as new immigration controls and military spending on Trump’s agenda. However, despite neutral budget analysts predicting that these measures would add about $5.7 trillion to the country’s debt over the next decade, there is still deep disagreement on how these expenses will be financed. Republican Senator Chuck Grassley from Iowa presented a bipartisan bill proposing to give Congress more authority in determining tariffs on US trading partners. The bill, co-sponsored by Democratic Senator Maria Cantwell, aims to “reconfirm” Congress’s role in setting and approving trade policy. Although the bill, supported by Republican senators Lisa Murkowski, Mitch McConnell, Jerry Moran, and Thom Tillis, is largely seen as symbolic, recent developments, such as a $5.4 trillion loss in the stock market in two days and the defeat of the candidate supported by Trump’s advisor Elon Musk in the Wisconsin Supreme Court elections, are interpreted as an increasing backlash from voters against the administration’s policies.