Senator Ted Cruz, chairman of the U.S. Senate Commerce Committee and a veteran Republican from Texas, has raised concerns about President Donald Trump’s tariffs, warning they could pose significant risks to the U.S. economy.
Speaking on Friday, Cruz cautioned that if countries and regions around the world respond with reciprocal tariffs while Trump’s tariffs remain in place, it could be “terrible for America” and result in the most dramatic tax hike in a “long, long time.”
“If we’re in a scenario 30 days from now, 60 days from now, 90 days from now, with massive American tariffs, and massive tariffs on American goods in every other country on Earth, that is a terrible outcome,” Cruz said.
Although Cruz describes himself as one of Trump’s “strongest supporters” in the Senate, he admitted, “I’m not a fan of tariffs.”
Cruz shared that he had spoken with one of the “Big Three” U.S. automakers—General Motors, Ford, or Chrysler—who indicated that the tariffs could raise the average price of their cars by $4,500 as early as June due to delays in the supply chain.
“This U.S. car company told me they actually thought foreign car companies would benefit more than they would,” Cruz explained. “If you send it over here, you pay one tariff, whereas these guys are getting hit on each part that is going over a border.”
The senator warned that a potential recession could have severe political consequences for the Republican Party. “If we go into a recession, particularly a bad recession, 2026 in all likelihood, politically would be a bloodbath,” he said, referring to the upcoming midterm elections.
Amid these concerns, some Republicans are signaling interest in legislation to enhance Congress’s authority to approve future tariffs, according to recent reports.
