Sen. Ted Cruz met privately last November with longtime ally Morton Klein, president of the Zionist Organization for America, at an office near Washington’s Union Station to discuss the future of the Republican Party and Cruz’s own political trajectory. During the conversation, Klein warned that antisemitism and hostility toward Israel were gaining traction on parts of the political right and urged Republicans to confront the issue directly.
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Cruz, who has increasingly spoken out against antisemitism within GOP circles, told Klein he had been receiving encouragement to consider another presidential run in 2028. According to Klein, the Texas senator appeared to be seriously weighing the possibility, particularly with President Donald Trump not expected to be on the ballot that year.
In recent months, Cruz has positioned himself as a defender of traditional Republican foreign policy, emphasizing strong support for Israel and a hawkish approach to global threats. As part of that effort, he has openly criticized influential conservative media figure Tucker Carlson, accusing him of promoting antisemitic themes through his opposition to U.S. support for Israel. Carlson has denied the accusation.
Behind the scenes, Cruz is quietly exploring a second bid for the White House, according to people familiar with his thinking. Such a move would likely place him on a direct collision course with Vice President JD Vance, who is widely viewed as a top contender for the Republican nomination in 2028.
The emerging rivalry reflects deeper divisions within the party. Cruz has reportedly cautioned Republican donors that Vance’s foreign policy views lean too heavily toward isolationism. Vance, a prominent critic of U.S. military involvement abroad, has close ties to Carlson, underscoring a growing ideological split within the post-Trump Republican coalition.[/read]