Secret tapes show Cruz warned Trump tariffs could hurt markets as 100% Canada tariff looms

Beincrypto reports secret recordings allegedly capture Senator Ted Cruz privately warning that President Donald Trump’s sweeping tariff plans could crash markets and cost Republicans control of Congress, as Trump threatens a 100% tariff on Canadian imports. The tapes, reportedly nearly 10 minutes drawn from two closed-door meetings in 2025 and obtained by Axios, include Cruz recounting a late-night call after the April 2025 tariff rollout.

Cruz allegedly said “Trump was in a bad mood,” and that the president was “yelling” and “cursing” as senators urged him to stand down; he warned donors that if retirement accounts fell sharply and grocery prices rose “10–20%,” Republicans would face a “bloodbath.” The CEO of Walmart is cited as saying grocery prices will keep rising in 2026.

Analysis cited in the recordings notes the U.S. imported roughly $400 billion in goods from Canada in 2025, and commentators warned a blanket 100% tariff would act as an instant tax on U.S. consumers and businesses, pushing up energy and car costs and raising inflation by about 1.5%–2%, the reports say.

Key Topics

Politics, Ted Cruz, Donald Trump, Canada, Tariffs, Walmart