From The Hill: Republican senators aren’t happy about how President Trump treated Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), whom the president blasted last week on social media after Tillis said he wouldn’t vote for Trump’s “big, beautiful bill.”
Tillis is highly regarded among colleagues as a team player focused on getting results, and many Republicans thought he would have had the best chance of keeping the North Carolina Senate seat in GOP hands.
Senate Republicans are expressing disappointment over Tillis’s sudden retirement announcement, which came after Trump tore into him on social media and publicly solicited other Republicans to run for North Carolina’s Senate seat in 2026.
“I do think it was totally unnecessary,” an anonymous Republican senator said, referring to Trump’s messages about Tillis on social media. “I just don’t think it really achieves anything good to come after somebody just because they disagree with you.”
According to the lawmaker, Tillis had been in talks with Trump and Senate GOP leadership as he questioned pieces of the bill.
“He was talking to him the whole time,” the source said.
GOP senators are reportedly concerned about Trump’s recent public criticism of a vulnerable GOP incumbent over a policy disagreement, despite Tillis’s past loyalty to Trump.
Tillis has been instrumental in confirming key Trump Cabinet members and consistently voted to support Trump’s agenda during the president’s first term.
“He is a great fit for his state and was looking out for the best interests of North Carolina, so to see him pushed aside like that is unfortunate. And, frankly, he deserves better than that,” the strategist said. “If you’re a Republican senator in a vulnerable position or with a potential primary challenge — or even if you don’t have a primary challenge — that’s your worst nightmare politically, to have President Trump come after you.”
The strategist lamented the consequences of crossing Trump.
Meanwhile others have expressed support for Trump’s stance, and relief about Tillis’ retirement.
One X user called Tillis an “Absolutely useless RINO,” or Republican in name only.
HOLY SH*T 🚨 Donald Trump just ended Senator Thom Tillis’s career. Absolutely useless RINO
TIME TO VOTE TILLIS OUT pic.twitter.com/XnzEWsy5Or
— MAGA Voice (@MAGAVoice) June 29, 2025
Conservative commentator Charlie Kirk posted on X, “Thom Tillis routinely fought to increase American intervention abroad while rejecting border security at home. He has also been a chief obstacle to the timely confirmation of President Trump’s nominees.
“His retirement is a golden opportunity to make North Carolina’s senators…”
Thom Tillis routinely fought to increase American intervention abroad while rejecting border security at home. He has also been a chief obstacle to the timely confirmation of President Trump’s nominees.
His retirement is a golden opportunity to make North Carolina’s senators… pic.twitter.com/lrFL9Vaz5E
— Charlie Kirk (@charliekirk11) June 29, 2025
Additional examples follow.
🚨 BREAKING: THOM TILLIS JUST ANNOUNCED HE WILL NOT SEEK RE-ELECTION
This comes just hours after Trump EVISCERATED him.
Good riddance, loser! pic.twitter.com/WzRpGcKqdF
— Nick Sortor (@nicksortor) June 29, 2025
Right after Trump announces that he’s searching for a Thom Tillis replacement, Tillis throws in the towel. He’s retiring. https://t.co/eLGMAi99Wo pic.twitter.com/igxNZeAOqf
— Vince Coglianese (@VinceCoglianese) June 29, 2025
I didn’t think this week could get better, but Senator Thom Tillis (R-NC) is retiring & will NOT be running for re-election in 2026.
Tillis was in danger of losing the seat, anyway.
This is a win-win.
— ThePersistence (@ScottPresler) June 29, 2025
READ MORE AT The Hill.
