A report by Axios said Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) is “laying the groundwork for a 2028 presidential bid” by taking jabs at political commentator Tucker Carlson. Cruz has accused Carlson of antisemitism and opposed the former Fox News host’s isolationist foreign policy positions, the news outlet said. The maneuvering against Carlson is believed to potentially put Cruz on a path to face Vice President J.D. Vance, who is widely viewed as the 2028 GOP frontrunner. The Texas Republican, who placed second in the GOP's 2016 primary, is reportedly weighing a 2028 run. https://t.co/NYdbcFCdQh — Newsweek (@Newsweek) November 17, 2025 “We have a responsibility to speak out even when it’s uncomfortable,” Cruz told Axios. “When voices in our own movement push dangerous and misguided ideas, we can’t look the other way. I won’t hesitate to call out those who peddle destructive, vile rhetoric and threaten our principles and our future. Silence in the face of recklessness is not an option,” he added. Cruz and Carlson had a heated interview in June that included discussions on numerous foreign policy issues, including the missile strike on Iran’s nuclear weapons facility, the Israel-Gaza conflict, and U.S. aid to Ukraine in its war against Russia. Here’s a snippet: NEW: Republican Senator Ted Cruz is “laying the groundwork” for a 2028 presidential bid by focusing on his attacks of Tucker Carlson, according to Axios. Axios reports that Cruz “is endearing himself to powerful pro-Israel donors,” many who aligned with Nikki Haley. “By poking… pic.twitter.com/nxdMpRqTrI — Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) November 17, 2025 Cruz has also criticized Carlson for recently having Nick Fuentes on his podcast. “It’s remarkable, and sad, watching Tucker turn into Nick Fuentes,” Cruz said. It’s remarkable, and sad, watching Tucker turn into Nick Fuentes. https://t.co/A2SeMDDDQk — Ted Cruz (@tedcruz) October 28, 2025 Axios shared more: During a late October speech before the Republican Jewish Coalition (RJC), Cruz called Carlson a “coward” and “complicit in evil” for his conduct in the Fuentes interview. Last week, while speaking to the Federalist Society convention in D.C. this month, Cruz said Carlson had “spread a poison that is profoundly dangerous” when he invited Fuentes, whom the senator called “a little goose-stepping Nazi.” Some of Cruz’s jabs have been echoed by The Daily Wire’s Ben Shapiro, who torched Carlson earlier this month over the Fuentes interview, accusing him of polishing abhorrent views conservatives shouldn’t embrace. This week, Cruz plans to address the Jewish Federations of North America’s General Assembly. Top Republicans say that in challenging Carlson, Cruz is endearing himself to powerful pro-Israel donors who are deeply angered by the podcaster’s embrace of Fuentes and worried about the GOP’s shift toward isolationism. Cruz was asked to respond to the Axios report during an interview on Fox News’s “The Faulkner Focus.” “Axios led its morning newsletter with this headline: ’SCOOP: Cruz Eyes 2028 Run’. Senator Cruz, where are you on that?” Faulkner asked the Texas Republican. “You know, reporters are going to write headlines that get clicks and get eyeballs. I got a job. It’s representing 31 million Texans, and it’s fighting every day for 31 million Texans,” Cruz responded. Cruz proceeded to discuss legislative accomplishments during President Trump’s second term. “I’ll tell you right now, the wins we are getting are historic. The ‘one big, beautiful bill’ you were talking about just a minute ago, I was blessed to write major portions of that bill,” Cruz said. Cruz said he “authored and passed into law” a school-choice provision and personal investment accounts for children. “So the victories we are winning are a big deal. That’s where my focus is,” he added. Cruz said one of his focuses right now is addressing Christian persecution in Nigeria. Faulkner noted that Cruz did not deny the reporting by Axios. Watch the clip below: Harris Faulkner: “Axios led its morning newsletter with this headline: ’SCOOP: Cruz Eyes 2028 Run’. Senator Cruz, where are you on that?” Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX): “You know, reporters are going to write headlines that get clicks and get eyeballs. I have a job that is representing… pic.twitter.com/vChZ2Zdj5c — RedWave Press (@RedWave_Press) November 17, 2025 The Hill noted: Cruz was the last GOP candidate standing against President Trump in the 2016 presidential primary, and he won the first primary race in Iowa. The senator has said that he expects to run again for president someday. “I loved running for president in 2016. We came incredibly close. We came within inches of winning. It’s the most fun I’ve ever had in my life and I fully hope and expect to run again at some point,” he said in an interview in November 2023 with The Texas Tribune. Axios reported on Monday that Cruz is leaning into his feud with former Fox News host Tucker Carlson, a fierce critic of Israel and of U.S. intervention abroad, as the senator lays the groundwork for a 2028 run. The digital news outlet reported that Cruz is “staking out turf as a traditional, pro-interventionist Republican.”