Republican Sen. Ted Cruz is quietly positioning himself for a potential 2028 presidential campaign by escalating his criticism of commentator Tucker Carlson and appealing to major pro-Israel donors, according to a new report from Axios.
The outlet reports that Cruz has been “laying the groundwork” for a future White House bid by targeting Carlson’s foreign-policy stance, which Cruz and other hawkish Republicans have labeled isolationist. Carlson remains highly influential within the GOP base and is closely aligned with Vice President J.D. Vance — widely viewed as an early frontrunner for the 2028 nomination.
According to Axios, Cruz’s strategy includes aligning himself with powerful pro-Israel Republican donors, many of whom previously backed former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley during the 2024 primary cycle. These donors have taken note of Cruz’s repeated attacks on Carlson, including accusations related to antisemitism and opposition to U.S. involvement abroad.
“By poking at Carlson’s isolationist foreign policy views, accusing him of antisemitism and more, Cruz is putting himself on a collision course with VP Vance,” Axios reported, noting that such positioning signals the beginning of a likely ideological showdown within the party.
Cruz, who ran for president in 2016 and placed second to Donald Trump in the primaries, has not formally announced any 2028 intentions. However, his recent comments and donor outreach suggest he is working to carve out space as the GOP’s leading foreign-policy hawk at a moment when the party is divided between traditional interventionist conservatives and a growing populist, anti-intervention faction.
Neither Carlson nor the office of Vice President Vance has responded to the report.
Cruz’s office also has not publicly addressed speculation about a 2028 run.
