Ted Cruz fires back at ‘insecure’ JD Vance as the two trade barbs over 2028

The New York Post ^ | 10/04/2026 | Ryan King

[thegagline]

Texas Sen. Ted Cruz fired back at Vice President JD Vance for suggesting he is already gearing up for a 2028 bid — blasting the veep as “insecure.”

Vance, widely seen as the 2028 frontrunner, threw shade at Cruz (R-Texas) last week when he implied that the Lone Star State lawmaker was more focused on 2028 than the upcoming midterms.

“In my experience, people engage in political bomb-throwing when they’re feeling insecure,” Cruz snapped back in an interview with Politico on Saturday.

“So he’s welcome to make whatever comments he likes,” Cruz, 55, continued.

“I’m going to keep focusing on the midterms and helping us win on Election Day in the next 30 days.”

Cruz had been the second-place finisher in 2016 against President Trump, following a bitter and bruising fight.

***

“At this moment, I’m not. I’m trying to help elect Republicans. That’s what I’m going to keep on doing.”

Many Republicans see the 2028 presidential election cycle as an opportunity to dramatically recalibrate the GOP after Trump. Traditionalists like Cruz want the GOP to return to its roots of free markets and fiscal restraint.

Meanwhile, MAGA Republicans want the party to remain in a populist direction and recommit to staying out of foreign entanglements.

Cruz, who has previously reminisced about his prior presidential run, has already engaged in some of those battles over the future of the GOP, sitting down with nicotine-pouch salesman and podcast giant Tucker Carlson for a fiery clash in June of last year.

Carlson and Vance have long been chummy, despite the veep acknowledging some recent political differences with the pundit, who has turned on Trump.***

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TOPICS: News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: 2028; cruz; election; vance

[thegagline]

“ MAGA Republicans want the party to remain in a populist direction and recommit to staying out of foreign entanglements.”

In order to recommit to something, you must first have committed to it. Since January 20, 2025, seven countries have been attacked by the United States.

I’m hoping that Lee Zeldin tosses his hat into the ring.

[Bruce Campbells Chin]

Many Republicans see the 2028 presidential election cycle as an opportunity to dramatically recalibrate the GOP after Trump. Traditionalists like Cruz want the GOP to return to its roots of free markets and fiscal restraint. Meanwhile, MAGA Republicans want the party to remain in a populist direction and recommit to staying out of foreign entanglements.

To the extent that characterization is generally accurate, I'd definitely be in that "traditionalist" camp.

[srmanuel]

I haven’t decided who I am supporting in 2028, I have decided to who I don’t want to support and that is Ted Cruz.

IMO, he’s got no chance to win the nomination, to me he seems to me as someone who thinks he’s the smartest guy in the room and constantly wants to remind everyone of that.

[GMThrust]

So you’re quoting a liberal writer concerning “what MAGA wants”. I’m MAGA and I’m all for going on the offense to wipe out all those groups (did you bother to see who was being attacked in those countries?), who want to annihilate the US and Israel.

[Bobbyvotes]

Well Cruz is smart but as you said he is constantly reminding everyone of that, and it makes him less likeable.

[Bruce Campbells Chin]

Yeah, I love Cruz’s ideas but he lacks the appeal to win a national election.

[escapefromboston]

Cruz has no chance to become president and probably isn’t eligible anyways

[Jamestown1630]

I had the same feeling about him back in 2016. Every time I’ve started to like him a little more, he’s done something like this.

[Tench_Coxe]

So basically Cruz is admitting Vance was correct?

Prediction: Its bad enough with the Zeepers skulking about. FR is going to be a s*****w in about a year.
I'm gonna miss JimRob more so then.

[odawg]

“Since January 20, 2025, seven countries have been attacked by the United States.”

Could you list those countries? Most of us have no clue.

[thegagline]

Since January 20, 2025, seven countries have been attacked by the United States.”

Could you list those countries? Most of us have no clue.

1) Iran
2) Iraq
3) Syria
4) Yemen
5) Somalia
6) Venezuela
7) Nigeria

[Bobbyvotes]

Isolationist will wait until the Mullah nukes are halfway in orbit in ICBM’s. Kudos to president Trump for taking initiatives to take action first. I will sleep like a baby for rest of my life knowing I won’t be Hiroshima’d by a nuke from lunatic fanatic Mullah’s. I am age 86 now, so it will be a good 16 years ahead. Iran’s nuclear ambitions have been set back 16 years.

[Zathras]

Interview with Pollutico.
Almost as bad as interview with PMSNBC.
Cruise needs to wake up and stop taking advice from his staff.

[Az Joe]

Only Iran would normally be considered a “foreign entanglement” so you can F Off yraitor.

You like doing your master’s (Democrats) work for them din’t you? Wretched simp.

[central_va]

Cruz is GOPe lite 1/3 less globalism and free trade.

[rbg81]

I’ve actually been extremely impressed with Rubio. I’m still impressed with JD, but he does have a habit of saying some off-the-wall stuff.

[DIRTYSECRET]

A pox on both. Cruz-Vote your conscience. Plus he’s ugly. Vance would be a good young SCOTUS.

Rubio or DeSantis for all of us.

[escapefromboston]

It will be Rubio, DeSantis , or Vance
Cruz has zero shot
I’ll vote for who is strongest against immigration (legal otherwise)

[MtnClimber]

Please, not before the midterms.

[bigbob]

Tread careful, Rafael Eduaurdo, lest you piss off the man who may well hold the power of future appointments.