Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, firmly rejected the suggestion that Republicans have already united behind Vice President JD Vance as the party’s likely presidential nominee in 2028, arguing that the GOP will first face a major debate over its political identity.
Cruz also declined to close the door on another White House campaign of his own.
The Texas Republican discussed the party’s future during a wide-ranging interview with MS NOW’s Ali Vitali ahead of the release of his new biography, “Going Further: The Incomparable Clarence Thomas.”
Vitali pointed to Cruz’s active role in the current primary season, including endorsements of candidates who went on to defeat rivals backed by President Donald Trump.
Cruz explained that his approach is to support “the most conservative candidate who can win,” emphasizing both a contender’s principles and electoral viability.
When Vitali asked whether candidates must be part of the MAGA movement, Cruz paused before responding that they must have a realistic path to victory.
“There is no Never Trump lane,” Cruz said.
Cruz praised Trump as a “fearless” and “extraordinary” political figure who fundamentally reshaped Republican politics. The senator said he speaks with Trump every week and offers advice that the president frequently considers, though he acknowledged Trump does not always follow his recommendations.
“I wish sometimes there was more message discipline and focus,” Cruz said.
The senator argued that Republicans are already engaged in a broader discussion about what the party represents, particularly on economic policy.
“Are we a small government free market conservative party? Are we a big government nanny state party?” Cruz asked.
Vitali then questioned whether Republicans had already coalesced behind Vance as Trump’s potential successor.
“Oh, no!” Cruz responded. “There’s going to be a full discussion about who we are and what we believe.”
Asked whether he would personally participate in that debate as a possible presidential candidate, Cruz refused to rule out the prospect.
“There’ll be time to figure that out,” he said.
Cruz added that he would “certainly” take part in the discussion because of his strong views on the party’s economic and foreign-policy direction. He said Republicans must decide whether they remain committed to conservatism economically and whether they will embrace American leadership abroad or move toward isolationism.
Cruz finished second to Trump in the 2016 Republican presidential primary. He suggested that Trump’s command of the GOP would not automatically carry over to any chosen successor.
“Trump is a black swan event,” Cruz said. “He is a unique historical figure. There’s never been anyone like him. I don’t think there’ll be anyone like him going forward.”
The senator predicted Republicans would spend the next several years considering the party’s identity and priorities.
Cruz also pointed to what he described as a Democratic “civil war” involving the party’s democratic socialist faction.
“On the Republican side,” Cruz concluded, “we’re going to have to decide who we are and what do we believe.”
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