Maddow Blog-GOP's Thom Tillis slams his party's megabill after Trump forces him into retirement

[LetMyPeopleVote]

While politicians have traditionally been punished for lying, the North Carolina Republican was punished for telling truths his party didn't want to hear.

While politicians have traditionally been punished for lying, Republican Sen. Thom Tillis was punished for telling truths his party didn't want to hear. www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddo...

— Steve Benen (@stevebenen.com) 2025-06-30T12:02:53.842Z

https://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/maddowblog/gops-thom-tillis-slams-partys-megabill-trump-forces-retirement-rcna215897

The first furious anti-Tillis message was published to Trump’s social media platform on Saturday night. Thirteen minutes later, the president published another, announcing plans to meet with the incumbent’s would-be primary rivals. Sunday morning, Trump kept the online offensive going, writing, “Thom Tillis has hurt the great people of North Carolina. ... Tillis is a talker and complainer, NOT A DOER! He’s even worse than Rand ‘Fauci’ Paul!”

Soon after, the North Carolinian announced that he was walking away from Capitol Hill altogether. NBC News reported:

Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., announced Sunday that he would not run for re-election, one day after he drew President Donald Trump’s ire for opposing the party’s sweeping domestic policy package. The surprise decision opens up seat in battleground North Carolina that was already set to be one of the most hotly contested races of the 2026 midterms.

The president celebrated the developments in an online item in which he suggested Tillis isn’t actually deserving of the “senator” title, and the National Republican Senatorial Committee — led by Tillis’ ostensible allies and intraparty colleagues — issued a statement about his retirement announcement that didn’t make any effort to acknowledge his years of public service. Indeed, the NRSC didn’t even mention Tillis’ name at all.

With a year and a half remaining in his term, in other words, Tillis has basically achieved “pariah” status in his party, despite earning a reputation as a conservative Republican over the last decade in the Senate.....

Hours later, the Republican delivered remarks on the Senate floor, slamming the GOP megabill in no uncertain terms, and shining a light on its Medicaid cuts.

https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:iu4j537hox5huj4bwnwgub4z/post/3lsrzv5n74n2x

Link to tweet

.....Ordinarily, when looking at Republican senators who are on the fence about their own party’s plans, attention inevitably turns to Alaska’s Lisa Murkowski and Maine’s Susan Collins. As things stand, and looking ahead to the next 18 months, the political world might want to start keeping an eye on Tillis, too.

[Silent Type]

1. Right now, Tillis is doing the best job of opposing the POS legislation.

[BlueTsunami2018]

2. Nobody "forced" him into anything.

He capitulated to a dictator. Take the argument to the voters and let the chips fall. These people are all gutless.

[Traildogbob]

3. What do you tell

660,000 constituents? “Every damn one if you are Suckers and Losers for ever voting Republican.
Even for me. You were THIS close👌to voting for Mark Robenson. Cause Fox “is” your brain, this is your brain on Fox🍳”. Don’t worry about him, he has amazing retirement that will never be Touched and the greatest health care tax payers can buy.
He has no use for SS or Medicare. Just spare change compared to his retirement.
Also he should give those hundreds of thousands a heads up, GQP has a super majority in NC and to forget about FEMA help for Helena that never hit here yet, All that money is going for the “alligator tent city” in Trump country.
An American Jesus Land theme park.