Senator Thom Tillis Takes on Trump Allies as Retirement Nears
Republican Senator Thom Tillis of North Carolina is not going quietly as he prepares to retire from the Senate after two terms at the end of the year. In a series of bold moves, he has taken aim at key figures in the Trump administration, including Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller.
Confrontation Over Kristi Noem's Leadership
During a recent Senate Judiciary Committee hearing, Tillis launched a fiery critique of Kristi Noem's leadership at the Department of Homeland Security. This confrontation was long in the making. Back in January, Tillis and Senator Lisa Murkowski of Alaska became the first Republicans to publicly call for Noem's removal, following the controversial killing of Alex Pretti in Minneapolis, whom Noem labeled a domestic terrorist.
Tillis escalated his criticism by attacking Noem for her admission in a book about killing her dog, Cricket. As an avowed dog lover who recently hosted a Mardi Gras dog parade, Tillis found Noem's actions reprehensible. He told The Independent, "It was a precipitous, emotionally based decision, and that's not unlike some of the precipitous, emotionally based decisions she's made as secretary."
Targeting Stephen Miller's Influence
Tillis has also set his sights on Stephen Miller, the architect of Trump's mass deportation strategy. Over the weekend, he told CNN's Jake Tapper that Miller should step aside. Tillis has been critical of Miller for some time, particularly over Miller's advocacy for the Trump administration to take over Greenland. In January, Tillis stated, "It's going to be something that someone in the White House has told the president to double down on and I just don't believe it's achievable. So that's bad advice, and whoever's giving it to him needs to get the hell out of the White House."
A Bipartisan Legacy Amid Party Tensions
Tillis's willingness to break with the Trump administration stems from his secure position, as he faces no primary challenge. Despite this, he maintains that his relationship with President Donald Trump is strong, claiming they have "never had a cross word." However, after Tillis called for Noem's ouster, Trump labeled him and Murkowski as "losers" and said Tillis had "lost his voice."
Throughout his Senate career, Tillis has built a reputation as a bipartisan dealmaker. He played a key role in passing the First Step Act, Trump's signature criminal justice reform law. After the shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas in 2022, he negotiated with Democrats on a major gun violence bill, which passed and bolstered his credentials. He also helped pass the Respect for Marriage Act, codifying protections for same-sex and interracial marriages, with allies like former Senator Kyrsten Sinema.
Changing Political Landscape and Future Warnings
The Senate has shifted since those bipartisan efforts, with figures like Sinema and former Senator Rob Portman leaving. When a bipartisan border security deal was proposed in 2024, Trump opposed it, and MAGA Senator JD Vance called it an "atrocious proposal," frustrating Tillis, a NATO supporter. At the North Carolina Republican Party state convention, Tillis was sanctioned for his dealmaking, and he backed a challenger to Trump's pick for governor, Mark Robinson, before scandal led to Democrat Josh Stein's victory.
Had Tillis run for re-election, he might have faced challenges similar to Senator John Cornyn, who pivoted right to avoid a primary fight. Instead, Tillis is avoiding a tough race against former Democratic governor Roy Cooper. He warns that Republicans risk losing if they only appeal to their base, stating, "This is team ball guys. Once you get to this mode, every member needs to set aside their 20% differences and work as a team. The party that does is the party that wins the day."
Legacy and Final Moves
Tillis has not entirely opposed Trump, as seen in his opposition to War Powers Act resolutions on Venezuela and Iran. He achieved a significant win with the federal recognition of the Lumbee Tribe last year, a cause Trump campaigned on. In his final months, Tillis aims to leave "a good legacy for the president," cautioning against bad advice that could harm Trump. In an era where total devotion to Trump defines Republicanism, Tillis's pragmatic approach may be fading, but he continues to make his mark as he exits the Senate stage.
