North Carolina Senator Thom Tillis has emerged as one of the most vocal Republican critics of President Donald Trump’s signature legislative package, announcing his retirement from the Senate while launching sharp attacks against what he calls “unelecteds” advising the president in the White House.
The North Carolina Republican made his harshest criticism during an interview on Wednesday, July 16 with Charlotte’s WBT News Talk, expressing concern about the president’s advisers and their impact on his legacy. Tillis indicated that he fears Trump will not have much of a legacy if Republicans do not start standing up to what he considers bad advice from unelected officials in the White House.
Tillis had announced on June 29 that he would not seek reelection in 2026, citing the increasingly polarized nature of Washington politics. The senator reflected on his political career while lamenting what he described as the endangered species of leaders willing to embrace bipartisanship, compromise, and independent thinking in the nation’s capital.
The senator’s decision to retire came after Trump criticized him on social media following his private expression of concerns about the so-called “Big Beautiful Bill.” Tillis told reporters that Trump’s social media attack affected him in a way that made him declare he was done with what he characterized as problematic behavior from the administration.
Tillis has been particularly critical of the legislation’s impact on Medicaid recipients in North Carolina. He told the Charlotte radio station that the bill would force the state to remove 663,000 people from Medicaid coverage, warning that such cuts would damage not only Trump but the entire Republican Party when people across the country begin feeling the effects.
The senator expressed concerns that the bill would result in tens of billions of dollars in lost funding for North Carolina, particularly affecting hospitals and rural communities. He indicated that the legislation would force the state to make painful decisions, including eliminating Medicaid coverage for hundreds of thousands in the expansion population and reducing critical services for those in the traditional Medicaid population.
During a Saturday night Senate vote on June 28 that advanced the sweeping domestic policy package, Tillis was one of only two Republicans who joined all Democrats in opposition. The bill eventually passed in the Senate, with Vice President JD Vance breaking the tie.
Following Tillis’ opposition vote, Trump attacked the senator on Truth Social, indicating plans to meet with potential primary challengers for the 2026 Senate race. The president characterized Tillis’ position as a big mistake for America and the people of North Carolina.
Tillis has also criticized Trump’s approach to other policy areas, including tariffs, which he described as a failure. He told reporters that the president is prone to mirroring the behaviors of others, suggesting that if Trump wants to antagonize him, he would be prepared to return the favor.
The senator has drawn comparisons to former Senator Mitt Romney, though Tillis indicated he would not necessarily respond to attacks with the same level of politeness as his former Utah colleague. He suggested that people could only hope he would behave like Romney if Trump were to make similar personal attacks against him.
With Tillis’ retirement announcement, several potential Republican candidates have emerged for the 2026 Senate race. Speculated contenders include Representatives Richard Hudson and Pat Harrigan, former Representative Patrick McHenry, RNC Chair Michael Whatley, and notably, Lara Trump, the president’s daughter-in-law and former RNC co-chair.
A Victory Insights poll from November 2024 showed Lara Trump leading Tillis by a significant margin in a hypothetical primary matchup, with 65% support compared to his 11%. The poll results came before Tillis announced his retirement decision.
The Congressional Budget Office published an analysis finding that the Senate bill could increase the national debt by $3.3 trillion over the next 10 years. The analysis projected that revenues could fall by approximately $4.5 trillion while spending could be cut by $1.2 trillion over a decade. The legislation could lead to 11.8 million people losing their health insurance by 2034.
Tillis has also been involved in recent confirmation battles, notably supporting Pete Hegseth for Secretary of Defense despite initially expressing reservations. The Wall Street Journal reported that Tillis had encouraged Hegseth’s former sister-in-law to testify about alcohol and spousal abuse concerns, suggesting it would influence multiple votes, including his own.
The senator’s criticism of Trump’s advisers reflects a broader concern about what he characterized as “amateurish” counsel when Republicans need to demonstrate that they are adults capable of governing and making tough decisions without always taking extreme positions. Tillis indicated that his retirement decision was influenced by Trump’s continued reliance on advisers he considers problematic for effective governance.
