Senator Ted Cruz released his biography of Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas on August 25, 2026, while discussing the escalating U.S.-Canada trade war on CBS Mornings. The book, titled “Going Further: The Incomparable Clarence Thomas,” is based on approximately 9.5 hours of exclusive, one-on-one interviews between Cruz and Justice Thomas conducted over the past year.
The 336-page volume, published by Sentinel, marks Cruz’s fifth book and represents the first extended interview Thomas has granted for such a project. During his CBS appearance, Cruz described Thomas as “a true American hero” and detailed his pitch to the justice for the biography.
In the same CBS Mornings interview, Cruz weighed in on the brewing trade conflict between the United States and Canada. He said he thinks Canada’s tariff response is “a little performative,” according to CBS News. The comment came as tensions escalated following Trump’s imposition of 50 percent tariffs on roughly $20 billion worth of Canadian goods, which took effect on August 22, according to PBS NewsHour.
Canada announced retaliatory tariffs on $27.6 billion in U.S. goods set to begin September 8, 2026, targeting steel, electronics, cosmetics, and hundreds of other products including honey and hockey sticks, according to CBC and the New York Times. The tariffs represent a significant escalation in what has become a full-scale trade war between the two neighboring countries.
Cruz’s comments suggest a more measured approach to Trump’s tariff strategy. In earlier interviews, the Texas Republican has expressed concerns about tariffs’ potential impact on American consumers and businesses. When Trump first announced his tariff plans in 2025, Cruz warned that the measures could harm Americans, though he indicated willingness to wait and see the results, according to the Texas Tribune.
The book release and trade war discussion highlight Cruz’s dual focus on his political agenda. The biography underscores his alignment with Thomas’s originalist constitutional philosophy, while his trade war commentary positions him as a voice of caution within the Republican Party on economic policy. Cruz also discussed the Texas Senate race between Ken Paxton and James Talarico during the same CBS appearance.
You can explore more about Cruz’s biography release and Thomas’s response, or read about how Republicans are divided over Trump’s tariff strategy.
Sources
- CBS News — Cruz’s August 25 appearance on CBS Mornings discussing the book and Canada tariffs
- Penguin Random House — Book publication details: “Going Further: The Incomparable Clarence Thomas,” 336 pages, published August 25, 2026
- PBS NewsHour — Trump’s 50 percent tariffs on $20 billion in Canadian goods taking effect August 22
- New York Times — Canada’s retaliatory tariffs of $27.6 billion on U.S. goods beginning September 8, 2026
- CBC — Details on Canadian counter-tariffs targeting steel, electronics, and consumer goods
- Texas Tribune — Cruz’s 2025 warnings about tariff impacts on American consumers
