Trump Responds After Top Republican Senator Won’t Seek Re-Election
President Donald Trump commended the retirement announcement of one of the two Republicans who opposed the advancement of his ‘big, beautiful bill.’
“Fantastic News! ‘Senator’ Thom Tillis will not be pursuing reelection. For all Republicans focused on cost-cutting, of which I am one, REMEMBER, you still need to secure reelection. Do not go overboard! We will compensate for it, tenfold, through GROWTH, more than ever before,” Trump stated in a post on Truth Social.
The North Carolina Republican announced on Sunday that he will not run for re-election in 2026. Tillis would have been among the most vulnerable Republicans in the upcoming election. Following his vote against Trump’s proposal on Saturday night, he faced threats of a primary challenge.
The legislator opposed the advancement of the package and is anticipated to vote against its final approval due to significant Medicaid cuts in the extensive bill, which led to alterations in the tax rate for Medicaid providers.
Tillis expressed concern over the gradual decline of bipartisanship in Washington in a statement.
“In Washington over the past few years, it has become increasingly clear that leaders willing to embrace bipartisanship, compromise, and exhibit independent thought are becoming a rare breed,” he remarked.
His announcement follows Trump’s extensive criticism of Tillis as a ‘grandstander’ on Saturday evening, along with promises to explore potential primary challengers, while Vice President JD Vance, Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., and his leadership team engaged with resistant fiscal conservatives.
“Many individuals have expressed their desire to compete in the Primary against ‘Senator Thom’ Tillis,” Trump stated on Truth Social. “I will be meeting with them in the upcoming weeks, seeking someone who will adequately represent the Great People of North Carolina and, importantly, the United States of America. Thank you for your attention to this issue!”
Trump praised the approval of his “Big, Beautiful Bill” after an extensive four-hour voting session in the Senate, which will now permit the proposal to proceed to debate.
Senator Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), who notably switched his vote from ‘no’ to ‘yes,’ remarked that the substantial bill signifies a “necessary first step” towards fiscal sustainability and tackling the issues left by the Biden administration.
“Biden and the Democrats have left behind significant problems that we are striving to resolve – an open border, conflicts, and substantial deficits,” Johnson stated. “After collaborating for weeks with President Trump and his highly competent economic team, I am convinced that he sees this as a necessary first step and will endorse my efforts to guide America towards fiscal sustainability.”
The vote was predominantly 51-49 along party lines, with only Senators Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) and Rand Paul (R-Ky.) dissenting against the initiation of a lengthy 20-hour debate on the bill. Republicans hold a 53-47 seat majority in the chamber.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) asserted that the measure is “radical.”
“Senate Republicans are rushing to pass a radical bill, unveiled to the public in the dead of night, hoping the American people remain unaware of its contents,” he stated in a press release. “If Senate Republicans refuse to inform the American public about what is in this bill, then Democrats will compel this chamber to read it from beginning to end.”
Senator Rick Scott, R-Fla., however, expressed that he was “proud” to collaborate with Trump on the bill and “set our nation on a course to balance the budget after years of reckless spending by Democrats.”