President Donald Trump on Wednesday unveiled what he has described as reciprocal tariffs on all trading partners to correct trade imbalances, and most Democrats predictably opposed that move, along with many media pundits, and even some Republicans.

One somewhat surprising GOP critic of Trump's tariffs is Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX), who acknowledged the potential for a "massive" economic benefit from the new duties on imports but also warned that they could result in a political "bloodbath" for the Republican Party, the Daily Mail reported.

It doesn't appear that Trump has responded to Cruz's critiques, at least not yet, but the president did call out by name four other prominent Republican senators who've voiced their strong opposition to the new ostensibly reciprocal tariffs on most of the nation's trade partners.

Trump's reciprocal tariffs are unleashed

Calling it "Liberation Day," President Trump on Wednesday finally imposed his long-anticipated reciprocal tariffs on imports from most other nations that are aimed at overcoming pre-existing tariffs and other trade barriers against U.S. goods and evening out imbalanced trade with partner countries.

The new tariffs, which come in addition to any other pre-existing duties, start at a baseline of 10%, but that rate is individually higher for most nations.

The purpose of the tariffs is twofold, in that they are obviously intended to encourage other nations to drop their tariffs and other barriers against U.S. goods, but also to incentivize more investment in domestic manufacturing in the U.S.

Cruz issues a dire warning on Trump's tariffs

The reaction to President Trump's tariffs was, in many respects, typically overwrought, as the stock markets tumbled amid global uncertainty, Democrats cried foul, media pundits shouted doom and gloom, and some weak-kneed Republicans went along with the loud opposition.

Then there is Sen. Cruz, who admittedly is no big fan of tariffs generally, but sought to provide a balanced view of the development in an episode of his "Verdict" podcast.

"I'm seeing a lot of Republican cheerleaders reflexively defending what the White House is doing," Cruz said of the reciprocal tariffs that have real potential to "hurt jobs and hurt America" if they don't quickly work out as planned.

"If we're in a scenario 30 days from now, 60 days from now, 90 days from now, with massive American tariffs, and massive tariffs on American goods in every other country on earth, that is a terrible outcome," the senator said.

And, while Cruz admitted that "the upside could be massive" for the U.S. if the tariffs succeed in evening out trade imbalances. Yet, if the tariffs aren't immediately successful, he warned, "If we go into a recession -- particularly a bad recession -- 2026 in all likelihood, politically would be a bloodbath."

Trump hits back at some GOP critics

President Trump has not yet responded to Sen. Cruz's concerns, though he did lash out on Truth Social against four other top Republicans outspokenly opposed to the new tariffs -- Sens. Mitch McConnell and Rand Paul of Kentucky, Susan Collins of Maine, and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska -- for supporting a Democrat-backed bill that would block his tariffs against Canada.

"The Senate Bill is just a ploy of the Dems to show and expose the weakness of certain Republicans, namely these four, in that it is not going anywhere because the House will never approve it and I, as your President, will never sign it," he wrote along with urging his followers to pressure resistant GOP senators into supporting his agenda.

More broadly to those who are worried about the likely negative short-term consequences of the tariffs, Trump hinted at positive developments in the long-term as he posted on Truth Social, "Big business is not worried about the Tariffs, because they know they are here to stay, but they are focused on the BIG, BEAUTIFUL DEAL, which will SUPERCHARGE our Economy. Very important. Going on right now!!!"