The tumultuous relationship between President Donald Trump and Senator Thom Tillis has reached a breaking point, as the North Carolina Republican announced he will not seek a third term in 2026. This development comes on the heels of Tillis’s public opposition to Trump’s reconciliation package, which aimed to cut taxes, boost immigration enforcement funding, and reform welfare programs. Who has Trump publicly endorsed as his preferred replacement for the Senate seat?
Trump Celebrates Tillis’s Departure After Budget Bill Dispute
Senator Thom Tillis announced his decision not to seek reelection in 2026, citing political polarization and a desire to spend more time with family. The announcement came shortly after Tillis delivered a scathing speech on the Senate floor criticizing President Trump’s reconciliation package, particularly its proposed cuts to Medicaid funding.
In his speech, Tillis warned that the bill would slash federal support for Medicaid by approximately $26 billion, potentially affecting 663,000 people in his home state of North Carolina alone. The senator claimed he consulted various experts before presenting his findings to Dr. Mehmet Oz, Administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, who eventually acknowledged the accuracy of Tillis’s estimates.
🚨 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
Trump Quickly Endorses Replacement
President Trump made no effort to hide his satisfaction with Tillis’s departure, bluntly stating, “I didn’t get along with Tillis. He resigned. That’s good.” The president promptly endorsed Lara Trump, his daughter-in-law, as his preferred candidate to fill the North Carolina Senate seat when it becomes available.
Trump also issued a warning to fellow Republicans about excessive budget cuts, writing, “For all cost-cutting Republicans, of which I am one, REMEMBER, you still have to get reelected. Don’t go too crazy!” This statement appeared to validate some of Tillis’s concerns while simultaneously criticizing his approach to the budget reconciliation package.
Despite the public rebuke from Trump, Tillis maintained that he still believed he had a good relationship with the president. “People don’t believe me when I say I think I have a good relationship with President Trump, but I still think I have a good relationship with President Trump. I’m trying to watch his back,” Tillis stated, though Trump’s comments suggest otherwise.
BREAKING:
North Carolina native Lara Trump is SERIOUSLY thinking about running for Senator to replace retiring RINO Thom Tillis. pic.twitter.com/a42vHcGiCW
— Mila Joy (@MilaLovesJoe) June 29, 2025
A History of Strained Loyalty
The budget bill disagreement was not the first instance of tension between Tillis and Trump. Before this final break, Tillis had blocked Trump’s nomination of Ed Martin for DC Attorney, citing concerns about Martin’s qualifications and approach.
Additionally, Tillis reportedly attempted to impede Pete Hegseth’s confirmation as Secretary of Defense, another Trump favorite. These actions, combined with his opposition to the reconciliation package, painted a picture of a senator increasingly at odds with the president he claimed to support.
In his retirement announcement, Tillis lamented the decline of bipartisan cooperation and independent leadership in Washington. The senator’s departure highlights the growing challenge for Republican lawmakers who attempt to balance traditional conservative principles with loyalty to Trump’s agenda and personal preferences.