Washington: Fresh controversy has erupted over the stalled India–US trade agreement after a leaked audio recording of Republican Senator Ted Cruz revealed sharp internal divisions within the Trump administration. According to the recording, US Vice President JD Vance and White House economic adviser Peter Navarro were among the key figures opposing the proposed trade deal with India, with former President Donald Trump also occasionally aligned with the opposition.
The revelation was reported by Axios, which said it independently verified the authenticity of the audio, though the recording itself has not been made public. In the clip, Cruz is heard criticising the administration’s tariff policies and expressing frustration over resistance within the White House to advancing trade negotiations with India.
‘Fighting the White House’
In the alleged audio, Cruz says he was actively “fighting the White House” to push forward trade agreements with India. When asked who was blocking the deal, he reportedly named Vice President JD Vance and economic adviser Peter Navarro, adding that “sometimes Trump himself” was also part of the resistance.
The comments suggest that opposition to the India–US trade deal is coming not from outside pressure but from within the Republican leadership, highlighting ideological differences over tariffs and protectionism.
Contrast With Trump’s Public Remarks
The leaked claims come at a time when Donald Trump has publicly adopted a more positive tone towards India. Speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos recently, Trump praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi, calling him “a fantastic man” and “a friend,” and expressed confidence that both countries would strike a “good deal.”
However, Cruz’s remarks indicate that behind closed doors, Trump’s hardline tariff stance continues to complicate negotiations.
Warning on Tariff Fallout
According to Axios, Cruz warned in the recording that aggressive tariff policies could cause serious damage to the US economy. He reportedly cautioned that heavy economic fallout could hurt Republicans in the 2026 midterm elections and even raise the risk of impeachment proceedings against Trump.
Cruz further claimed that following the announcement of new tariffs, he and several other senators held a late-night phone call with Trump in early April 2025, urging him to reconsider the decision. The conversation, Cruz said, lasted past midnight and quickly turned hostile.
“He was yelling and swearing,” Cruz is heard saying in the audio, describing the exchange as highly confrontational and unproductive.
Political Impact
The leaked audio has added a new layer of uncertainty to the already delayed India–US trade deal, which both sides have described as strategically important. It also exposes growing rifts within the Republican Party over trade policy, particularly between free-trade advocates and economic nationalists aligned with Navarro’s views.
Neither the White House nor JD Vance and Peter Navarro have officially responded to the report so far. As scrutiny mounts, the revelations could further complicate efforts to revive momentum in India–US trade negotiations.
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