Donald Trump is swinging hard at North Carolina Senator Thom Tillis after the senator announced he won’t seek re-election in 2026.
The Daily Mail reported that in a fiery clash within the Republican ranks, Trump cheered Tillis’s exit while blasting him for opposing a major budget bill, issuing a stern caution to other GOP members who dare to defy the legislation.
On Saturday evening, Tillis, alongside Kentucky’s Rand Paul, voted against a procedural step for Trump’s much-touted budget proposal, which the president has dubbed a grand achievement for the nation. Their dissent sparked immediate backlash from Trump, who didn’t hold back over the weekend.
By Sunday morning, Trump took to Truth Social, slamming Tillis for supposedly failing North Carolina during catastrophic flooding, claiming a “miracle” only happened once Trump himself stepped in.
“Thom Tillis has hurt the great people of North Carolina,” Trump posted, painting the senator as all talk and no action. If that’s not a jab meant to sting, what is?
Trump didn’t stop there, adding in an afternoon post, “Great News! ‘Senator’ Thom Tillis will not be seeking reelection.” That sarcastic quotation around “Senator” is classic Trump—subtle as a sledgehammer, but it lands with his base, who crave loyalty above all.
Also on Sunday, Tillis confirmed his decision to step away from the 2026 race, citing a desire to escape Washington’s partisan gridlock and spend time with family.
“As many of my colleagues have noticed over the last year, I haven’t exactly been excited about running for another term,” he admitted in a statement. Well, senator, trading political theater for family time might just be the sanest move in today’s climate.
The budget bill at the heart of this drama isn’t just any legislation—it’s facing a $35 million ad campaign to sway lawmakers, showing how high the stakes are.
Trump’s plan reportedly includes deep cuts to Medicaid, which Tillis warned could strip $38.9 billion from North Carolina, affecting over 600,000 residents. That’s a tough pill for any state to swallow, even if some see it as a necessary trade-off for other priorities.
Trump’s agenda, backed by a White House request for $150 billion in border security funding, has some Republicans arguing that trimming programs like Medicaid is the only way to balance the books.
North Carolina’s State Senate President Pro Tempore Phil Berger seemed ready to iron out any wrinkles, posting on Saturday that the legislature would address implementation hiccups. It’s a pragmatic nod, but will it calm the waters?
Rand Paul, the other GOP dissenter, doubled down on his opposition to the bill on Sunday, aligning with Tillis in spirit if not in strategy. Meanwhile, Trump warned GOP cost-cutters in his afternoon post to remember their re-election prospects, urging them not to “go too crazy.” It’s a not-so-veiled reminder that crossing Trump can come with a political price tag.
Tillis’ announcement has set the stage for a wide-open Senate race in North Carolina, a swing state Trump narrowly carried in past elections despite Democratic leadership at the state level.
This vacancy could be a golden opportunity for Democrats in the 2026 midterms, especially in a battleground like this. Republicans, beware—losing ground here would be a bitter blow.
Potential GOP contenders to fill Tillis’ shoes include heavyweights like NRCC Chairman Richard Hudson and RNC Chairman Michael Whatley, both with deep ties to the party machinery.
Even Lara Trump, the former president’s daughter-in-law and a North Carolina native, could throw her hat in the ring after her recent stint as RNC co-chair. It’s shaping up to be a family affair—or at least a Trump-adjacent one.
Tillis’ political journey in North Carolina is worth a nod, rising from a state House member in 2010 to speaker, where he pushed conservative policies on taxes, gun rights, and social issues. His 2014 victory over Democratic Senator Kay Hagan helped flip the U.S. Senate to GOP control, cementing his status as a party player.
Yet, as a moderate Republican, Tillis often found himself at odds with his party, even facing a 2023 censure from North Carolina Republicans over his stances on immigration and gun policy. He championed causes like mental health and veterans’ support, often reaching across the aisle, which he defended unapologetically. “I wouldn’t have changed a single one,” he said of his bipartisan efforts—a rare bit of principle in a polarized age.