Latest news with #MAGAWorld
The Hill
9 hours ago
- Politics
- The Hill
The Memo: Risks loom as Trump moves toward direct participation in Israel's attack on Iran
President Trump is becoming ever more emphatic in his backing of Israel's attack on Iran, with the chances rising by the hour that he will green-light direct U.S. involvement. The president discussed the crisis in the White House Situation Room with his closest advisors on Tuesday afternoon. Afterward, according to the Israeli news organization Haaretz, he spoke with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The road ahead is complicated, not least because there are stark differences within Trump's Make America Great Again (MAGA) support base over the merits of getting involved in foreign conflicts in Iran or anywhere else. Then there is the vexing question of what, precisely, the goal would be if the U.S. joined military operations – and how it would be achieved. Would it be limited to destroying the Iranian uranium enrichment facility at Fordow, which is literally built inside a mountain? Or would it be regime change in Tehran? Then there are questions of economics and logistics, such as the effect of an all-out war on oil prices and on crucial mercantile traffic through the Strait of Hormuz. On Tuesday, Trump adopted his most belligerent stance yet on Iran in a series of social media posts. Most blatant of all was an all-caps posting that demanded 'UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER!' It was not clear what exactly Trump meant by surrender. The message from the president came shortly after one that had warned, 'We know exactly where the so-called 'Supreme Leader' is hiding. He is an easy target, but he is safe there – We are not going to take him out (kill!) at least not for now.' Trump's words were directed at Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, and it was notable in part because of media reports in recent days that Trump had kiboshed an Israeli plan to kill Khamenei at the start of the latest phase of the conflict. Trump's use of the word 'we' in seeming reference to a direct alliance between the U.S. and Israel when it comes to the attack on Iran, was not lost on anyone either. He had written on social media about an hour before, 'We now have complete and total control of the skies over Iran.' It's a far cry from the beginning of the Israeli strikes on Iran, just five days previously, which were met by a quick statement from Secretary of State Marco Rubio seeking to maintain at least some distance between the U.S. and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government. 'Tonight, Israel took unilateral action against Iran. We are not involved in strikes against Iran and our top priority is protecting American forces in the region,' Rubio said. But as Trump seems to be moving closer to a joint U.S.-Israeli assault on Iran, he is encountering pushback even from within his own base. A range of prominent figures in MAGA World have expressed skepticism, and sometimes outright indignation, at the idea of the U.S. entangling itself in another conflict in the Middle East. Figures like Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.), former Trump chief strategist Steve Bannon, commentator Tucker Carlson and several online influencers are part of a populist conservative movement that has grown far more dubious of military involvements in the two decades since President George W. Bush and his coterie of neoconservative advisors launched wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. On Monday, Greene took aim on social media at 'fakes' who were 'slobbering for the U.S. to become fully involved in the Israel/Iran war.' On Tuesday, she emphasized the need to cater to Americans who want their leaders to work on kitchen-table issues, like 'cheap gas, groceries, bills, and housing,' rather than having the government's energy and resources 'going into another foreign war.' Carlson has become one of the main right-wing media voices expressing opposition to foreign military adventuring, and skepticism about the assumption that the U.S. should back Israel in almost any endeavor. On Monday, he published a long on-camera interview with Bannon in which the erstwhile strategist began by saying that one of the main pillars of the MAGA coalition from the start of Trump's rise was to 'stop the forever wars.' 'I'm a big supporter of Israel,' Bannon said, 'and I'm telling people, hey, if we get sucked into this war…it's going to not just blow up the [MAGA] coalition, it's also going to thwart what we're doing' on the domestic front — specifically in terms of Trump's hardline policies on immigration. It bears emphasizing that the risks for Trump in directly joining the Israeli assault are not limited to the split in his political base. For a start, there is the perennial problem with military operations that the late secretary of State Colin Powell dubbed 'mission creep.' Powell was referring to the tendency for objectives to become more and more expansive over time, to a point where it becomes politically difficult to either withdraw troops or declare victory At the same time, there are voices within the GOP coalition loudly insisting that Trump should give Israel the utmost backing. Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) has said that the U.S. should go 'all-in' behind Israel if Iran does not come to an agreement over its uranium enrichment program. If Trump were to confound current expectations, he would keep the U.S. out of the direct conflict. But he would also be open to criticism from the most vehement supporters of Israel, within his own party and beyond, that he had blinked at a crucial time, passing up on what they see as a potentially transformative moment. Either way, the risks and rewards are profound — especially for a president who has previously expressed pride in his ability to keep the U.S. out of new wars. The Memo is a reported column by Niall Stanage.
Yahoo
25-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
7 most likely successors to Trump in 2028
While President Trump says it's too soon to back a successor for his party's 2028 presidential nod, the jockeying and tea-leaf reading has begun in the search for the next GOP leader. The president himself suggested Vice President Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio are possible contenders. Trump's eldest son, Donald Trump Jr., suggested this past week that he was keeping the door open to a possible run after his father leaves the White House, acknowledging 'that calling is there.' Some swing state governors have also made moves that stoked speculation of presidential ambitions this cycle. Here are the seven most likely successors to Trump in 2028: Talk of Vance as Trump's heir apparent began as soon as the president named him his running mate last year. The former Trump critic-turned-acolyte was already a leading messenger of Trump's economic populism and international isolationism, and he has used the vice presidential bully pulpit as a megaphone for his spin on Trump's 'America First' agenda. Trump has hinted that Vance could be his successor in 2028, but he has avoided an explicit endorsement. 'I think [Vance is] a fantastic, brilliant guy,' Trump said in an interview on NBC's 'Meet the Press' released earlier this month. 'Marco is great. There's a lot of them that are great,' he continued. 'I also see tremendous unity. But certainly you would say that somebody's the VP, if that person is outstanding, I guess that person would have an advantage.' Vance has said he's not taking anything for granted, telling NBC News in an interview this past week, 'My attitude is, if I do end up running in 2028, I'm not entitled to it.' Trump has loaded up Rubio's portfolio in his new administration, most recently making him the only person other than Henry Kissinger to serve as secretary of State and national security adviser at the same time. The expanding influence in the White House has increased speculation about what comes next for the previous presidential candidate, who was reportedly on Trump's shortlist for potential running mates in 2024. But MAGA World sees Rubio as insufficiently committed to the cause, and his past rivalry with Trump still looms. Trump and Rubio ran against each other in the 2016 GOP primary, with the president calling Rubio a 'perfect little puppet,' 'kid' and 'Little Marco,' while Rubio described the businessman as 'touchy and insecure.' Their relationship has evolved much since then. Rubio endorsed Trump over fellow Floridian Gov. Ron DeSantis right before the Iowa caucuses, a key move in his path to the Cabinet. Trump's eldest son stoked speculation this past week that he might have presidential ambitions while speaking at the Qatar Economic Forum. 'I don't know. Maybe one day. You know, that calling is there,' Trump Jr. said at one point after the moderator asked if he would be interested in picking up the reins and running after his father steps down. 'Maybe. You never know,' Trump Jr. said later, when pressed again if his answer was 'maybe.' Trump Jr., like his father, would enter the Republican race with no experience in elected office, though he has years of experience as a prominent figure in Trump's political movement. Things could get awkward between Trump Jr. and Vance, who have been close political allies, if they end up competing for the crown. The GOP primary between Trump and DeSantis got nasty and personal, but the president was quick to forgive his one-time rival after Florida's governor dropped out and endorsed Trump. While some Republicans see the Florida governor as a potential president, the 2024 primary still presents a significant hurdle if he wants Trump's backing. Both men have taken steps to shore up their relationship, with DeSantis taking proactive steps to align the state with Trump's immigration priorities. DeSantis was even at one point reportedly being considered for Defense secretary when Pete Hegseth's path through the Senate was looking unlikely. Other potential hurdles to a 2028 comeback for DeSantis: feuding with the Florida state Legislature and growing scrutiny over the Hope Florida Foundation, the charity arm of a welfare program tied to Florida first lady Casey DeSantis. Glenn Youngkin, who is term-limited as Virginia's governor, was seen as offering a playbook for Republicans to win in blue-leaning states after his 2021 election, delicately keeping Trump at arm's length during his campaign. Youngkin opted against seeking the presidency in 2024 after flirting with the idea, avoiding getting in the crosshairs of Trump. But he could run in 2028. The Virginia governor in an interview with The New York Times last month stirred speculation by keeping the door open. 'I have said many times that I do believe that folks that worry about their next job before they've finished their current one have their priorities misplaced,' he told the Times. 'My job is to continue to serve Virginians the best I can all the way up and through the last day I'm in office, and I'm committed to do that.' Youngkin has butted heads with Democrats who wield power in Virginia's Legislature, and he failed to win a trifecta that would have allowed him to advance more of his conservative agenda. During the 2023 election, Youngkin and Virginia's GOP tried to go on offense on abortion by suggesting a statewide 15-week limit. Democrats won full control of the state Legislature. Kristi Noem, the former governor of South Dakota, has been one of Trump's most ardent defenders and was also floated as a potential running mate for him last cycle. An anecdote included in a then-forthcoming book — about shooting her wirehaired pointer Cricket for behaving badly during a pheasant hunt — largely extinguished those prospects. Trump still tapped her as a key Cabinet official, making her a face of his immigration policy as the head of the Department of Homeland Security. She's defended the administration's handling of the case of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, who was mistakenly deported to El Salvador, and she has sought to bar Harvard University from being able to have international students enroll in the university. Brian Kemp stoked speculation earlier this month that he might have his eyes on the White House in 2028 after he declined to run against Sen. Jon Ossoff (D-Ga.) for Senate next year, despite intense recruitment efforts from the party. Kemp notably didn't vote for Trump in the GOP primary, telling CNN last year that 'the race was already over when the primary got here.' Trump reportedly badmouthed Kemp, a very popular figure in a key swing state, following a fundraiser. The two managed to patch things up before the November election, offering supportive remarks to one another on Fox News and Truth Social, and Kemp participated in a fundraiser for Trump. Like Youngkin, Kemp's business bona fides and success in a swing state would also make him attractive to members of the party. But his cool relationship with Trump makes him an unlikely favorite for the MAGA wing. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
The Hill
25-05-2025
- Politics
- The Hill
7 most likely successors to Trump in 2028
While President Trump says it's too soon to back a successor for his party's 2028 presidential nod, the jockeying and tea-leaf reading has begun in the search for the next GOP leader. The president himself suggested Vice President Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio are possible contenders. Trump's eldest son, Donald Trump Jr., suggested this past week that he was keeping the door open to a possible run after his father leaves the White House, acknowledging 'that calling is there.' Some swing state governors have also made moves that stoked speculation of presidential ambitions this cycle. Here are the seven most likely successors to Trump in 2028: Talk of Vance as Trump's heir apparent began as soon as the president named him his running mate last year. The former Trump critic-turned-acolyte was already a leading messenger of Trump's economic populism and international isolationism, and he has used the vice presidential bully pulpit as a megaphone for his spin on Trump's 'America First' agenda. Trump has hinted that Vance could be his successor in 2028, but he has avoided an explicit endorsement. 'I think [Vance is] a fantastic, brilliant guy,' Trump said in an interview on NBC's 'Meet the Press' released earlier this month. 'Marco is great. There's a lot of them that are great,' he continued. 'I also see tremendous unity. But certainly you would say that somebody's the VP, if that person is outstanding, I guess that person would have an advantage.' Vance has said he's not taking anything for granted, telling NBC News in an interview this past week, 'My attitude is, if I do end up running in 2028, I'm not entitled to it.' Trump has loaded up Rubio's portfolio in his new administration, most recently making him the only person other than Henry Kissinger to serve as secretary of State and national security adviser at the same time. The expanding influence in the White House has increased speculation about what comes next for the previous presidential candidate, who was reportedly on Trump's shortlist for potential running mates in 2024. But MAGA World sees Rubio as insufficiently committed to the cause, and his past rivalry with Trump still looms. Trump and Rubio ran against each other in the 2016 GOP primary, with the president calling Rubio a 'perfect little puppet,' 'kid' and 'Little Marco,' while Rubio described the businessman as 'touchy and insecure.' Their relationship has evolved much since then. Rubio endorsed Trump over fellow Floridian Gov. Ron DeSantis right before the Iowa caucuses, a key move in his path to the Cabinet. Trump's eldest son stoked speculation this past week that he might have presidential ambitions while speaking at the Qatar Economic Forum. 'I don't know. Maybe one day. You know, that calling is there,' Trump Jr. said at one point after the moderator asked if he would be interested in picking up the reins and running after his father steps down. 'Maybe. You never know,' Trump Jr. said later, when pressed again if his answer was 'maybe.' Trump Jr., like his father, would enter the Republican race with no experience in elected office, though he has years of experience as a prominent figure in Trump's political movement. Things could get awkward between Trump Jr. and Vance, who have been close political allies, if they end up competing for the crown. The GOP primary between Trump and DeSantis got nasty and personal, but the president was quick to forgive his one-time rival after Florida's governor dropped out and endorsed Trump. While some Republicans see the Florida governor as a potential president, the 2024 primary still presents a significant hurdle if he wants Trump's backing. Both men have taken steps to shore up their relationship, with DeSantis taking proactive steps to align the state with Trump's immigration priorities. DeSantis was even at one point reportedly being considered for Defense secretary when Pete Hegseth's path through the Senate was looking unlikely. Other potential hurdles to a 2028 comeback for DeSantis: feuding with the Florida state Legislature and growing scrutiny over the Hope Florida Foundation, the charity arm of a welfare program tied to Florida first lady Casey DeSantis. Glenn Youngkin, who is term-limited as Virginia's governor, was seen as offering a playbook for Republicans to win in blue-leaning states after his 2021 election, delicately keeping Trump at arm's length during his campaign. Youngkin opted against seeking the presidency in 2024 after flirting with the idea, avoiding getting in the crosshairs of Trump. But he could run in 2028. The Virginia governor in an interview with The New York Times last month stirred speculation by keeping the door open. 'I have said many times that I do believe that folks that worry about their next job before they've finished their current one have their priorities misplaced,' he told the Times. 'My job is to continue to serve Virginians the best I can all the way up and through the last day I'm in office, and I'm committed to do that.' Youngkin has butted heads with Democrats who wield power in Virginia's Legislature, and he failed to win a trifecta that would have allowed him to advance more of his conservative agenda. During the 2023 election, Youngkin and Virginia's GOP tried to go on offense on abortion by suggesting a statewide 15-week limit. Democrats won full control of the state Legislature. Kristi Noem, the former governor of South Dakota, has been one of Trump's most ardent defenders and was also floated as a potential running mate for him last cycle. An anecdote included in a then-forthcoming book — about shooting her wirehaired pointer Cricket for behaving badly during a pheasant hunt — largely extinguished those prospects. Trump still tapped her as a key Cabinet official, making her a face of his immigration policy as the head of the Department of Homeland Security. She's defended the administration's handling of the case of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, who was mistakenly deported to El Salvador, and she has sought to bar Harvard University from being able to have international students enroll in the university. Brian Kemp stoked speculation earlier this month that he might have his eyes on the White House in 2028 after he declined to run against Sen. Jon Ossoff (D-Ga.) for Senate next year, despite intense recruitment efforts from the party. Kemp notably didn't vote for Trump in the GOP primary, telling CNN last year that 'the race was already over when the primary got here.' Trump reportedly badmouthed Kemp, a very popular figure in a key swing state, following a fundraiser. The two managed to patch things up before the November election, offering supportive remarks to one another on Fox News and Truth Social, and Kemp participated in a fundraiser for Trump. Like Youngkin, Kemp's business bona fides and success in a swing state would also make him attractive to members of the party. But his cool relationship with Trump makes him an unlikely favorite for the MAGA wing.
Yahoo
18-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Is Ted Cruz running again? Texas carves out unique lane in Trump's GOP
Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), who finished in second place to President Trump in the 2016 Republican presidential primary, has distinguished himself from MAGA World by declaring his skepticism of long-term tariffs, remaining a hawk on Russia and coming out against proposals to tax the rich. By calling out tariffs as 'taxes on American consumers' and sticking to his view that Russia poses a serious threat to U.S. interests, Cruz may be laying the groundwork to run against Trump's heir apparent, Vice President Vance, in a 2028 Republican primary. 'I think he's carving out a position for himself as the defender of traditional conservatism,' Vin Weber, a Republican strategist, said of Cruz, who is 54. 'He's a viable contender for president because he's a brilliant conservative and he represents the largest Republican state,' he said. A big potential obstacle for anyone seeking the GOP presidential nomination in 2028 is Vance, who is 40. Vance is Trump's natural heir apparent, and has fully embraced the MAGA agenda, including the use of high tariffs to bring manufacturing back to the United States and a view that the nation doesn't have the defense industrial capacity to continue providing billions of dollars in military support to Ukraine. Weber said Vance is an 'obvious problem' to any White House ambitions from Cruz or other Republicans. 'I supported Jack Kemp against George H.W. Bush in 1988 and we thought we had a great chance because Jack was the defender of Reaganism, but we couldn't overcome the strength of the sitting vice president,' he said, referring to former President George H.W. Bush's victory in the 1988 Republican presidential primary. 'The MAGA base, they love JD Vance,' he added. A Republican strategist allied with Cruz declined to speculate about the senator's future political ambitions but ticked off the advantages he would bring to any presidential race. 'You got a guy that has 99-percent name ID with the party, a guy that has a national fundraising and small-dollar infrastructure and a guy that came in second in 2016. He's focused the next two years on delivering big wins for President Trump. We'll see what happens in the future. He's still a young guy,' the source said. Both Cruz and Vance are focused on implementing Trump's ambitious legislative agenda, but Republican strategists predict the race for the Republican nomination will pick up momentum immediately after the midterm election. One GOP strategist told The Hill that Republican policy experts and operatives are already jockeying for positions on a possible Vance presidential campaign or future administration. Cruz's best opportunity to become the next Republican nominee for president may emerge if Trump's tariff policies backfire, something that many Republican lawmakers on Capitol Hill fear is a real possibility. Trump has imposed a 90-day pause on his steepest 'reciprocal' tariffs on more than 180 counties and territories, but he is standing firm on a 145 percent tariff against China, the world's second largest economy. Cruz is warning that Trump's trade war, if it doesn't resolve soon, could become the 'biggest tax increase we have seen in a long, long time' and 'hurt jobs and hurt America.' Cruz also says the war in Ukraine should end in a 'clear and unequivocal loss for Russia and loss for [Russian President Vladimir] Putin.' And Cruz says he does not support raising taxes on wealthy Americans by pushing the top marginal tax rate from 37 percent to 39.6 percent, or by creating a new 40 percent tax rate for people who earn more than $1 million annually. The Trump White House is mulling both proposals, according to Republican sources, though raising taxes on the nation's top earners would face stiff opposition in the Senate, where Cruz is chair of the Commerce Committee. 'These are positions that certainly could be viewed as being geared toward the next presidential election,' said Stephen S. Smith, a professor of political science at Washington University in St. Louis. 'On the issues of Ukraine and tariffs, the Trump administration is taking what is currently an unpopular position on those issues. It's true that many Republicans are taking a 'wait-and-see' view on both issues — maybe there is a trick to be turned on gaining economic concessions from trading partners and maybe there is a deal that many would find acceptable,' he said. 'But the kind of pro-Russian, pro-tariff position that the administration has staked out is a pretty weak position, I think with the general public and obviously with traditional Republican values,' he said. Smith expressed doubt that Trump will ultimately decide to raise taxes on the rich to pay for more tax relief for the working class, given where most Republican lawmakers stand on the issue. For Vance's part, Smith said, 'I don't think he's going to wander away from what Trump agrees to. And Trump in turn isn't going to wander away from what congressional leaders tell him is the policy. The president has had a chance to submit a budget, including tax proposals, and has not yet done so.' A Republican strategist aligned with the Trump administration disputed that Cruz has a viable path to challenge Vance. 'I see the ambition, but the idea he actually has the ability to go out and become the next president is just a pipe dream and something that only people inside the Beltway think is a possibility,' the source said. 'He obviously didn't prevail in 2016 and he campaigned on a similar posture. The president has had his America First, working-class posture since he came down the golden escalator. It was very different than the Republican Party of years past,' he added. The strategist pushed back on the claims that the administration has staked out unpopular positions on tariffs, Russia and taxes. 'President Trump and MAGA Republicans clearly understand that for Republicans to be successful in elections to come, we must champion the working class. We are no longer the party that is beholden to special interest groups or multinational conglomerates who enrich themselves with cheap labor overseas,' the strategist said. On the topic of the war in Ukraine and negotiating with Putin, the strategist argued that Republican candidate Nikki Haley adopted a hawkish stance on Russia and the war in Ukraine during the 2024 Republican presidential primary but failed to gain much traction with voters. 'The MAGA position, the America First position is we want peace, and we want peace through strength and competence and negotiation, and we're very close to a peace deal,' the strategist said. 'I can't imagine that this is going to be a topic of conversation that's meaningful in 2028 because I'm confident the administration will get to a deal on that that everyone is very happy with. 'Hawkish views in general are rejected by this new Republican Party. You need this coalition to win the White House,' the source said of Trump's coalition. 'It's going to take a particular type of message and candidate to keep this coalition together.' Republican strategists who think Cruz has a chance of winning the GOP presidential nomination in 2028 say that he won't run as an antagonist to the Trump administration but instead as someone who can bridge the divide between traditional conservatives and the more populist MAGA base. Cruz, for example, has sponsored legislation to enact a core element of Trump's agenda to extend more tax relief to working-class Americans, the No Tax on Tips Act. He won reelection in November by a comfortable margin despite Democrats spending tens of millions of dollars to defeat him, and Republican aides and strategists think he still has his eye on the White House. A Senate Republican aide said Cruz is 'definitely' among the Republican senators with White House ambitions. The source also listed Sens. Tom Cotton (Ark.), Josh Hawley (Mo.) and Rand Paul (Ky.) as potential presidential candidates. Cruz won his first election to the Senate in 2012 and soon thereafter started to lay the groundwork for his 2016 presidential campaign by challenging then-Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (Ky.) and the GOP establishment in Washington. Most memorably, he spearheaded the push to repeal the Affordable Care Act, which led to a 16-day government shutdown. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
The Hill
18-04-2025
- Business
- The Hill
Is Ted Cruz running again? Texas carves out unique lane in Trump's GOP
Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), who finished in second place to President Trump in the 2016 Republican presidential primary, has distinguished himself from MAGA World by declaring his skepticism of long-term tariffs, remaining a hawk on Russia and coming out against proposals to tax the rich. By calling out tariffs as 'taxes on American consumers' and sticking to his view that Russia poses a serious threat to U.S. interests, Cruz may be laying the groundwork to run against Trump's heir apparent, Vice President Vance, in a 2028 Republican primary. 'I think he's carving out a position for himself as the defender of traditional conservatism,' Vin Weber, a Republican strategist, said of Cruz, who is 54. 'He's a viable contender for president because he's a brilliant conservative and he represents the largest Republican state,' he said. A big potential obstacle for anyone seeking the GOP presidential nomination in 2028 is Vance, who is 40. Vance is Trump's natural heir apparent, and has fully embraced the MAGA agenda, including the use of high tariffs to bring manufacturing back to the United States and a view that the nation doesn't have the defense industrial capacity to continue providing billions of dollars in military support to Ukraine. Weber said Vance is an 'obvious problem' to any White House ambitions from Cruz or other Republicans. 'I supported Jack Kemp against George H.W. Bush in 1988 and we thought we had a great chance because Jack was the defender of Reaganism, but we couldn't overcome the strength of the sitting vice president,' he said, referring to former President George H.W. Bush's victory in the 1988 Republican presidential primary. 'The MAGA base, they love JD Vance,' he added. A Republican strategist allied with Cruz declined to speculate about the senator's future political ambitions but ticked off the advantages he would bring to any presidential race. 'You got a guy that has 99-percent name ID with the party, a guy that has a national fundraising and small-dollar infrastructure and a guy that came in second in 2016. He's focused the next two years on delivering big wins for President Trump. We'll see what happens in the future. He's still a young guy,' the source said. Both Cruz and Vance are focused on implementing Trump's ambitious legislative agenda, but Republican strategists predict the race for the Republican nomination will pick up momentum immediately after the midterm election. One GOP strategist told The Hill that Republican policy experts and operatives are already jockeying for positions on a possible Vance presidential campaign or future administration. Cruz's best opportunity to become the next Republican nominee for president may emerge if Trump's tariff policies backfire, something that many Republican lawmakers on Capitol Hill fear is a real possibility. Trump has imposed a 90-day pause on his steepest 'reciprocal' tariffs on more than 180 counties and territories, but he is standing firm on a 145 percent tariff against China, the world's second largest economy. Cruz is warning that Trump's trade war, if it doesn't resolve soon, could become the 'biggest tax increase we have seen in a long, long time' and 'hurt jobs and hurt America.' Cruz also says the war in Ukraine should end in a 'clear and unequivocal loss for Russia and loss for [Russian President Vladimir] Putin.' And Cruz says he does not support raising taxes on wealthy Americans by pushing the top marginal tax rate from 37 percent to 39.6 percent, or by creating a new 40 percent tax rate for people who earn more than $1 million annually. The Trump White House is mulling both proposals, according to Republican sources, though raising taxes on the nation's top earners would face stiff opposition in the Senate, where Cruz is chair of the Commerce Committee. 'These are positions that certainly could be viewed as being geared toward the next presidential election,' said Stephen S. Smith, a professor of political science at Washington University in St. Louis. 'On the issues of Ukraine and tariffs, the Trump administration is taking what is currently an unpopular position on those issues. It's true that many Republicans are taking a 'wait-and-see' view on both issues — maybe there is a trick to be turned on gaining economic concessions from trading partners and maybe there is a deal that many would find acceptable,' he said. 'But the kind of pro-Russian, pro-tariff position that the administration has staked out is a pretty weak position, I think with the general public and obviously with traditional Republican values,' he said. Smith expressed doubt that Trump will ultimately decide to raise taxes on the rich to pay for more tax relief for the working class, given where most Republican lawmakers stand on the issue. For Vance's part, Smith said, 'I don't think he's going to wander away from what Trump agrees to. And Trump in turn isn't going to wander away from what congressional leaders tell him is the policy. The president has had a chance to submit a budget, including tax proposals, and has not yet done so.' A Republican strategist aligned with the Trump administration disputed that Cruz has a viable path to challenge Vance. 'I see the ambition, but the idea he actually has the ability to go out and become the next president is just a pipe dream and something that only people inside the Beltway think is a possibility,' the source said. 'He obviously didn't prevail in 2016 and he campaigned on a similar posture. The president has had his America First, working-class posture since he came down the golden escalator. It was very different than the Republican Party of years past,' he added. The strategist pushed back on the claims that the administration has staked out unpopular positions on tariffs, Russia and taxes. 'President Trump and MAGA Republicans clearly understand that for Republicans to be successful in elections to come, we must champion the working class. We are no longer the party that is beholden to special interest groups or multinational conglomerates who enrich themselves with cheap labor overseas,' the strategist said. On the topic of the war in Ukraine and negotiating with Putin, the strategist argued that Republican candidate Nikki Haley adopted a hawkish stance on Russia and the war in Ukraine during the 2024 Republican presidential primary but failed to gain much traction with voters. 'The MAGA position, the America First position is we want peace, and we want peace through strength and competence and negotiation, and we're very close to a peace deal,' the strategist said. 'I can't imagine that this is going to be a topic of conversation that's meaningful in 2028 because I'm confident the administration will get to a deal on that that everyone is very happy with. 'Hawkish views in general are rejected by this new Republican Party. You need this coalition to win the White House,' the source said of Trump's coalition. 'It's going to take a particular type of message and candidate to keep this coalition together.' Republican strategists who think Cruz has a chance of winning the GOP presidential nomination in 2028 say that he won't run as an antagonist to the Trump administration but instead as someone who can bridge the divide between traditional conservatives and the more populist MAGA base. Cruz, for example, has sponsored legislation to enact a core element of Trump's agenda to extend more tax relief to working-class Americans, the No Tax on Tips Act. He won reelection in November by a comfortable margin despite Democrats spending tens of millions of dollars to defeat him, and Republican aides and strategists think he still has his eye on the White House. A Senate Republican aide said Cruz is 'definitely' among the Republican senators with White House ambitions. The source also listed Sens. Tom Cotton (Ark.), Josh Hawley (Mo.) and Rand Paul (Ky.) as potential presidential candidates. Cruz won his first election to the Senate in 2012 and soon thereafter started to lay the groundwork for his 2016 presidential campaign by challenging then-Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (Ky.) and the GOP establishment in Washington. Most memorably, he spearheaded the push to repeal the Affordable Care Act, which led to a 16-day government shutdown.
