GOP senator Ted Cruz warns Trump's tariff hikes could lead to political 'bloodbath' in 2026

ANI April 7, 2025 151 views

Ted Cruz cautions that Donald Trump's tariff hikes could lead to a significant trade war, potentially harming the US economy. He stresses that a recession could result in a political "bloodbath" for Republicans in 2026, with possible Democratic dominance in Congress. Trump's tariffs aim to address trade imbalances but could backfire if economic conditions worsen. The tariffs target countries with major trade deficits, raising concerns about long-term economic impacts.

"If we go into a recession, 2026... politically, would be a bloodbath." - Ted Cruz
Washington DC, April 7: Pro-Trump Senator Ted Cruz is warned that US President Donald Trump's reciprocal tariff hikes on nearly every country could lead to a political "bloodbath" for Republicans, according to a report by the New York Post.

Key Points

1

Ted Cruz warns of a potential trade war

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Tariffs could damage US economy leading to recession

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GOP risks political losses in 2026

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Trump targets countries with high trade deficits

Fifty four-year-old Cruz, who represents Texas, warned that these tariffs might trigger a trade war.

Speaking on his podcast 'Verdict' on Friday, Cruz said, "I am seeing a lot of Republican cheerleaders reflexively defending what the White House is doing." He further said that a trade war "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. You would face a Democrat House, and you might even face a Democrat Senate," the New York Post quoted him as saying.

Cruz further said, "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."

On April 2, Trump announced a widespread imposition of tariffs on countries worldwide. In February, soon after taking charge for the second time, Trump outlined a new trade policy focused on fairness and reciprocity and said that the US would implement reciprocal tariffs, charging other countries the same tariffs they impose on American goods.

Trump emphasised that tariffs would address unfair trade practices, including non-monetary barriers, subsidies, and VAT systems, while encouraging foreign countries to either reduce or eliminate tariffs against the US.

As per the announcements, the import tariffs on other major countries are China (34 per cent), the European Union (20 per cent), Vietnam (46 per cent), Taiwan (32 per cent), Japan (24 per cent), India (26 per cent), the United Kingdom (10 per cent), Bangladesh (37 per cent), Pakistan (29 per cent), Sri Lanka (44 per cent), and Israel (17 per cent).

From April 9 onwards, countries with the largest trade deficits with the US will face higher, individualised tariffs. India is one of the countries affected, with a 26 per cent tariff imposed on all its exports.

Reader Comments

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Mark T.
Finally someone in the GOP speaking sense about tariffs! Cruz is right - we can't afford another trade war that hurts American workers. The 2018 tariffs didn't work, why would these? 🤔
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Sarah L.
Interesting to see Cruz break ranks like this. I don't always agree with him but he's making valid economic points here. The "bloodbath" warning seems dramatic though - voters care about more than just trade policy.
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James P.
About time someone stood up to Trump's protectionist nonsense. These tariffs will just make everything more expensive for regular Americans. Cruz 2028? 👀
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Amanda K.
Respectful criticism here - while I appreciate Cruz's warning, where was this energy when these policies were being discussed before implementation? Leadership means speaking up BEFORE bad decisions are made.
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Robert D.
The tariffs on China make sense but 20% on EU? That's our allies! This seems like blanket policy without nuance. Cruz is right to be concerned about political fallout.
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Tina M.
As a small business owner who imports materials, these tariffs will destroy my profit margins. Glad someone in Washington is paying attention to the real-world consequences! 🙏

We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.

Tags:
Ted Cruz Donald Trump US Tariffs Trade War GOP 2026 Political Bloodbath
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