Nope, no VAT
VAT in this case is a misnomer.
When you get paid, your employer pays taxes for your labor. Those are value added taxes because your labor adds value to your employer’s product.
In that sense, your employer is already paying a VAT on payroll and Cruz’ plan replaces it and other employer taxes with a flat payroll tax. It’s no more invasive a “VAT” tax than we already have.
I do agree with you about hell no to VAT taxes, but the taxes being referenced here aren’t point of sale consumption taxes.
Cruz is advocating a flat income tax and a flat payroll tax.