GOP Senator Runs To CNN To Bash Trump, Brag About Swearing At Him

In an interview with host Jake Tapper on CNN’s “News Central” program, Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC), who is well known among his colleagues as a “Republican in Name Only” or RINO, tried to put on a tough demeanor and stand on principle by going toe-to-toe with President Donald Trump.

Many within conservative circles believe that Tillis was attempting to win over liberals by taking up common ground on a shared distaste for the president and his style.

“I told the president that he’s clearly got the votes,” Tillis kicked off the interview, referring to President Trump’s “Big Beautiful Bill.”

Tillis voted against the legislation in the Senate. Trump then issued a warning that he would help support a primary against the senator in next year’s midterms. He responded to the president by saying he would not seek re-election.

Tillis told Tapper that he promised President Trump he would turn down the volume on his opposition and work with the House.

“And then I got that text,” the senator said in the interview, “that I texted him, or, I never read it, but I saw, like, the first sentence. I told the president in another text, I said ‘Now it’s time to start looking for my replacement, because I don’t deal with that kind of bulls***.’”

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Michael Schwarz of The Western Journal wrote that while Tillis is trying to play off his decision to forego seeking re-election as some sort of principled stand, in reality, the senator knew that he would not be able to win against a primary challenger with Trump’s stamp of approval.

Schwarz went on to say that Tillis’ pulling out of the Senate race is a big win for Trump.

“After all, Tillis has so totally aligned himself with the notorious Washington, D.C. ‘Swamp’ that he parrots establishment talking points about the Capitol incursion of Jan. 6, 2021,” Schwarz continued.

“In fact, when he leaves office after the 2026 midterm elections, Tillis no doubt will find a soft landing. Establishment media outlets will seek out his opinion and maybe even employ him as an analyst. Democrats will treat him the way they now treat former Vice President Dick Cheney and his daughter, former Republican Rep. Liz Cheney of Wyoming, whose hatred of Trump constitutes their sole and defining virtue in liberals’ eyes,” he added.

Schwarz closed out his piece on Tillis by saying that due to his choice to stand against Trump, he will be forced to try and seek refuge and acceptance from left-wing media pundits and politicians who might pretend to like him, but beneath the surface harbor hostility.