Ted Cruz Distances Himself from Trump, Looks Toward His Political Future
The Texas Republican's criticism of the president's tariff strategy represents just the latest instance of the lawmaker's efforts to carve out an independent path.
TroibNews 
Sen. Ted Cruz has stepped forward to criticize Donald Trump’s tariff actions, cautioning that they could have led to a political “bloodbath” for the GOP had Trump not partially reversed his stance on Wednesday. This is not the first instance of Cruz breaking from party lines since Trump returned to office, as the Texas senator has continued to assert his own priorities in his role as chair of the Senate Commerce Committee.
Since assuming the chairmanship in January, Cruz—who has hinted at presidential aspirations—has sought to carve out his agenda, even at the expense of stepping away from Trump and some fellow Republicans. In just four months, he has drawn the ire of the White House by vowing to scrutinize Big Tech CEOs who have maintained close ties with the administration, and he frustrated some Republicans on the Commerce Committee who rejected his request for unilateral subpoena power to call those CEOs and other major witnesses.
Cruz has committed to pursuing bipartisan initiatives within the committee, such as aviation safety legislation, reauthorizing the U.S. Coast Guard, and standardizing regulations regarding compensation for college athletes. However, he has also overseen contentious exchanges across party lines, prompting the committee’s top Democrat, Sen. Maria Cantwell of Washington, to lament, “I don’t want to turn into the House.”
His willingness to publicly challenge Trump's trade policies—despite the president’s push to suppress dissent within the party—reflects Cruz's zealous drive to promote his own agenda, regardless of the discomfort it may cause.
“I am doing everything I can to urge the president to listen to the voices of the angels and not the devils,” Cruz stated, noting his ongoing communications with the White House and Trump.
The overall situation suggests that Cruz may be positioning himself for another presidential bid in 2028, following his second-place finish to Trump in 2016. While he has aligned himself closely with Trump since that time, he is now leveraging his committee chair position to differentiate himself through aggressive oversight of technology firms, skepticism regarding tariffs, and a record of bipartisan cooperation.
Despite this approach, it may not significantly change the perception of Cruz. He has a reputation for being widely scorned and ridiculed on the left, and he occasionally rubs his Republican peers the wrong way with his flamboyant style. Cruz is known for his dramatic tactics, such as reading “Green Eggs and Ham” during a filibuster in 2013 to protest government funding without defunding Obamacare and spending substantial time each week recording a personal branding podcast.
In a recent interview, Cruz deflected questions about his future presidential ambitions, focusing instead on his current Senate responsibilities. “We have an enormous amount of work in front of us right now,” he said, adding, “We just had a presidential election in which President Trump won an incredible mandate from the American people… And my focus right now is 100 percent on rolling up my sleeves and doing the hard work to deliver on the promises he made and to deliver on the mandate for voters.”
If Cruz is indeed attempting to carve out his own political niche, his stance on tariffs has garnered some support from Republican committee members: Sen. Jerry Moran of Kansas noted that Cruz’s comments were “very helpful” in a recent interview.
However, commerce is not an "ideal platform for president" due to its focus on "nerdy policy issues," and tariffs do not fall under the committee's primary jurisdiction, as stated by Texas-based GOP strategist Matt Mackowiak. Still, he believes Cruz will find ways to elevate the committee's profile. “He doesn't shy away from being a partisan figure,” Mackowiak added.
Cruz maintains a commitment to his committee, emphasizing its significance: "I am focused like a laser on jobs, jobs, jobs. The Senate Commerce Committee has jurisdiction over roughly 40 percent of the US economy… There are very few positions in all of government that can have a greater impact than chairman of the Senate Commerce Committee."
He plans to bolster this impact by creating policies aimed at ensuring “America to lead in the development of [artificial intelligence] and to reap the productivity and job creation benefits that will come from that.”
To achieve these objectives, Cruz will require cooperation from his colleagues—something that has not always been forthcoming, especially due to his tendency to take an independent approach. His attempt to secure unchecked subpoena power earlier this year was met with resistance from Republicans, who were reluctant to break with longstanding committee practices, and the White House expressed concerns about Cruz potentially using such authority against major tech companies closely aligned with the administration.
In discussions with multiple GOP committee members during that time, none sided with Cruz over Trump, with many opting to refrain from commenting or expressing openness to hearing the White House's perspective. Sen. Deb Fischer merely stated, “we’ll see” when asked about her support for Cruz’s initiative.
In response, Cruz asserted that he intends to pursue oversight of Big Tech using the available means. “I view big tech censorship as the single greatest threat to free speech in America, and the single greatest threat to free and fair elections in America. We're going to engage in vigorous oversight, and if there is resistance, the committee will use compulsory processes to enforce compliance,” he explained.
When prompted to clarify the issues that arose earlier this year, Cruz directed questions to the White House, which did not provide a response.
Another area of potential contention within the committee could surface regarding the federal government’s approach to auctioning off wireless airwaves for commercial use. Cruz argues this will create jobs and maintain America's competitive edge against China, whereas some Pentagon officials and GOP lawmakers view it as a threat to national security.
Cruz appears to be navigating how to break from Trump at times while also seeking favor with the president. Early committee hearings this year were aimed at supporting Trump’s arguments for controlling Greenland and the Panama Canal. He also advanced legislation pushed by first lady Melania Trump aimed at combatting AI-generated revenge porn, which has successfully passed the Senate and may soon clear the House.
Many Republicans appreciate Cruz’s leadership style. Sen. Tim Sheehy, a new member of the committee, praised his “snappy” sense of humor, while Sen. Cynthia Lummis described him as “a breath of fresh air.”
Some Democratic committee members are also eager to collaborate with Cruz. “Ted and I get along well,” remarked Sen. Brian Schatz. “His move on the subpoenas was an unforced error. But other than that … there are always opportunities in Commerce to work in a bipartisan way.”
Jessica Kline for TROIB News
Since assuming the chairmanship in January, Cruz—who has hinted at presidential aspirations—has sought to carve out his agenda, even at the expense of stepping away from Trump and some fellow Republicans. In just four months, he has drawn the ire of the White House by vowing to scrutinize Big Tech CEOs who have maintained close ties with the administration, and he frustrated some Republicans on the Commerce Committee who rejected his request for unilateral subpoena power to call those CEOs and other major witnesses.
Cruz has committed to pursuing bipartisan initiatives within the committee, such as aviation safety legislation, reauthorizing the U.S. Coast Guard, and standardizing regulations regarding compensation for college athletes. However, he has also overseen contentious exchanges across party lines, prompting the committee’s top Democrat, Sen. Maria Cantwell of Washington, to lament, “I don’t want to turn into the House.”
His willingness to publicly challenge Trump's trade policies—despite the president’s push to suppress dissent within the party—reflects Cruz's zealous drive to promote his own agenda, regardless of the discomfort it may cause.
“I am doing everything I can to urge the president to listen to the voices of the angels and not the devils,” Cruz stated, noting his ongoing communications with the White House and Trump.
The overall situation suggests that Cruz may be positioning himself for another presidential bid in 2028, following his second-place finish to Trump in 2016. While he has aligned himself closely with Trump since that time, he is now leveraging his committee chair position to differentiate himself through aggressive oversight of technology firms, skepticism regarding tariffs, and a record of bipartisan cooperation.
Despite this approach, it may not significantly change the perception of Cruz. He has a reputation for being widely scorned and ridiculed on the left, and he occasionally rubs his Republican peers the wrong way with his flamboyant style. Cruz is known for his dramatic tactics, such as reading “Green Eggs and Ham” during a filibuster in 2013 to protest government funding without defunding Obamacare and spending substantial time each week recording a personal branding podcast.
In a recent interview, Cruz deflected questions about his future presidential ambitions, focusing instead on his current Senate responsibilities. “We have an enormous amount of work in front of us right now,” he said, adding, “We just had a presidential election in which President Trump won an incredible mandate from the American people… And my focus right now is 100 percent on rolling up my sleeves and doing the hard work to deliver on the promises he made and to deliver on the mandate for voters.”
If Cruz is indeed attempting to carve out his own political niche, his stance on tariffs has garnered some support from Republican committee members: Sen. Jerry Moran of Kansas noted that Cruz’s comments were “very helpful” in a recent interview.
However, commerce is not an "ideal platform for president" due to its focus on "nerdy policy issues," and tariffs do not fall under the committee's primary jurisdiction, as stated by Texas-based GOP strategist Matt Mackowiak. Still, he believes Cruz will find ways to elevate the committee's profile. “He doesn't shy away from being a partisan figure,” Mackowiak added.
Cruz maintains a commitment to his committee, emphasizing its significance: "I am focused like a laser on jobs, jobs, jobs. The Senate Commerce Committee has jurisdiction over roughly 40 percent of the US economy… There are very few positions in all of government that can have a greater impact than chairman of the Senate Commerce Committee."
He plans to bolster this impact by creating policies aimed at ensuring “America to lead in the development of [artificial intelligence] and to reap the productivity and job creation benefits that will come from that.”
To achieve these objectives, Cruz will require cooperation from his colleagues—something that has not always been forthcoming, especially due to his tendency to take an independent approach. His attempt to secure unchecked subpoena power earlier this year was met with resistance from Republicans, who were reluctant to break with longstanding committee practices, and the White House expressed concerns about Cruz potentially using such authority against major tech companies closely aligned with the administration.
In discussions with multiple GOP committee members during that time, none sided with Cruz over Trump, with many opting to refrain from commenting or expressing openness to hearing the White House's perspective. Sen. Deb Fischer merely stated, “we’ll see” when asked about her support for Cruz’s initiative.
In response, Cruz asserted that he intends to pursue oversight of Big Tech using the available means. “I view big tech censorship as the single greatest threat to free speech in America, and the single greatest threat to free and fair elections in America. We're going to engage in vigorous oversight, and if there is resistance, the committee will use compulsory processes to enforce compliance,” he explained.
When prompted to clarify the issues that arose earlier this year, Cruz directed questions to the White House, which did not provide a response.
Another area of potential contention within the committee could surface regarding the federal government’s approach to auctioning off wireless airwaves for commercial use. Cruz argues this will create jobs and maintain America's competitive edge against China, whereas some Pentagon officials and GOP lawmakers view it as a threat to national security.
Cruz appears to be navigating how to break from Trump at times while also seeking favor with the president. Early committee hearings this year were aimed at supporting Trump’s arguments for controlling Greenland and the Panama Canal. He also advanced legislation pushed by first lady Melania Trump aimed at combatting AI-generated revenge porn, which has successfully passed the Senate and may soon clear the House.
Many Republicans appreciate Cruz’s leadership style. Sen. Tim Sheehy, a new member of the committee, praised his “snappy” sense of humor, while Sen. Cynthia Lummis described him as “a breath of fresh air.”
Some Democratic committee members are also eager to collaborate with Cruz. “Ted and I get along well,” remarked Sen. Brian Schatz. “His move on the subpoenas was an unforced error. But other than that … there are always opportunities in Commerce to work in a bipartisan way.”
Jessica Kline for TROIB News
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