Former President Donald Trump has threatened to back a primary challenger against Senator Thom Tillis (R-NC) after Tillis voted against advancing a significant piece of legislation known as the "One Big, Beautiful Bill." This bill is currently moving through Congress via the reconciliation process. Trump’s criticism of Tillis came just as the legislation was making progress, having cleared an important procedural hurdle.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump mentioned that several individuals have expressed interest in running against Tillis in the upcoming primary. He stated, "I will be meeting with them over the coming weeks, looking for someone who will properly represent the Great People of North Carolina and, so importantly, the United States of America."
Tillis, who is preparing for re-election in 2026, explained that he could not support the bill in its current form due to changes made by the Senate since it passed the House. He emphasized that the bill could lead to significant funding losses for North Carolina, particularly affecting hospitals and rural communities. Tillis expressed concern that the legislation might force painful decisions, such as cutting Medicaid coverage for many residents.
He also noted that while there are positive aspects to the bill, such as extending Trump-era tax cuts and increasing the child tax credit, these benefits should not come at the expense of essential services for vulnerable populations in North Carolina.
Trump’s focus on Tillis comes as other Republican senators, like Rand Paul (R-KY) and Ron Johnson (R-WI), also opposed the bill. However, Trump singled out Tillis for his criticism, similar to how he previously targeted Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY) for opposing military actions. Johnson eventually changed his vote, allowing the Senate to proceed with the legislation, which could see a final vote in the coming days.
In another post, Trump accused Tillis of supporting what he called a "68% Tax Increase" and criticized him for not understanding the importance of a debt extension that Republicans had previously granted to Democrats. Trump expressed disbelief that a Republican senator from North Carolina could be out of touch with the state’s needs, especially after he claimed to have helped the state recover from recent floods.
Trump concluded by asserting that the people of North Carolina deserve better representation and that Tillis is making a mistake that could harm both the state and the country. As the political landscape continues to shift, all eyes will be on how this situation develops leading up to the 2026 elections.