Former President Donald Trump is once again showing how he deals with Republicans who don’t support him. This time, he went after Senator Thom Tillis from North Carolina. Just one day after Tillis voted against moving forward with Trump’s major spending plan, Trump celebrated the senator’s announcement that he wouldn’t run for re-election next year. On his social media platform, Truth Social, Trump made it clear that he saw Tillis’ decision as a win for himself, sarcastically calling it “great news.”
The bill in question, which Trump proudly referred to as his “big, beautiful bill,” is a massive spending plan that includes large tax cuts, big increases in military and immigration enforcement spending, and cuts to social programs like Medicaid. The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimated that the bill would add nearly \$3.3 trillion to the national debt over the next ten years and would cause about 12 million Americans to lose health insurance by 2034.
Tillis was one of only two Senate Republicans who joined Democrats in voting against advancing the bill. He explained that the changes to Medicaid in the bill would be devastating to the people of North Carolina and that he couldn’t support something that would hurt his constituents so badly. Because of this vote, Trump quickly went on the attack, suggesting that Republicans who don’t support his priorities should expect political consequences. In a not-so-subtle warning, he reminded them that they still have to win elections—and hinted that he might support challengers against them in future races.
Tillis responded with a bit of polite sarcasm. He thanked Trump for the “retirement wishes” and joked that he looked forward to working with him in 2026—hinting that Trump might not even be around politically by then. He also made a jab about Mark Robinson, North Carolina’s Republican nominee for governor who lost his race after a scandal tied to offensive comments he allegedly posted online using the screen name “minisoldr.” Trump had supported Robinson, and Tillis used this to suggest that Trump’s endorsements don’t always lead to victory.
In his announcement, Tillis explained that he’s become frustrated with how divided and dysfunctional politics in Washington has become. He said that leaders who try to find common ground, work across the aisle, or think independently are becoming rare. He’s not interested in spending another six years caught in constant political drama and instead wants to focus on finishing his term with a clear mind and more time for family. He said he plans to keep serving his state for the next 18 months, free from the distractions of campaigning or fundraising, and committed to making honest decisions without pressure.
There’s already talk about who might try to take Tillis’ seat, and one name that’s come up is Lara Trump, Donald Trump’s daughter-in-law. A source close to the Trump family told NBC News that she might be a possible candidate.
Tillis isn’t the only Republican who’s recently felt Trump’s pressure. Congressman Thomas Massie from Kentucky is now being targeted by a pro-Trump political group that wants to replace him, after he voted against the same bill in the House and criticized Trump’s decision to launch airstrikes in Iran.
The version of the bill that passed in the House was already expensive, but the Senate’s version would cost even more. Despite this, Trump is pushing hard for it to pass and even called on Senate Republicans to ignore their own rules if it helps move the bill forward. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, a Democrat, criticized the bill harshly, saying it’s the most expensive bill in U.S. history and would benefit the rich while hurting working Americans by cutting health care and other basic support programs.
Overall, this situation shows how Trump still tries to control the Republican Party by punishing those who cross him and rewarding those who stay loyal. It also highlights the growing divide within the GOP between those who stick to Trump’s agenda and those who are starting to push back.
