President Donald Trump is applauding the announcement that Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC) will not seek reelection in 2026, following the senator’s opposition to advancing Trump’s high-profile legislative package, often referred to by the president as his “big, beautiful bill.”
“Great News! ‘Senator’ Thom Tillis will not be seeking reelection,” Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social. In a follow-up message, he added, “For all cost-cutting Republicans, of which I am one, REMEMBER, you still have to get reelected. Don’t go too crazy! We will make it all up, times 10, with GROWTH, more than ever before.”
Tillis had been seen as one of the most politically vulnerable Republicans heading into the next cycle. His announcement came shortly after he voted against moving forward with the administration’s sweeping legislation, which included significant changes to Medicaid—specifically, deep cuts related to the Medicaid provider tax rate.
The public split between Trump and Tillis intensified in recent days, with the president blasting the senator as a “grandstander” and signaling he would actively work to support a primary challenger. “Numerous people have come forward wanting to run in the Primary against ‘Senator Thom’ Tillis,” Trump said. “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.”
In his announcement, Tillis appeared to push back on growing partisanship and internal party pressure, remarking that “in Washington over the last few years, it’s become increasingly evident that leaders who are willing to embrace bipartisanship, compromise, and demonstrate independent thinking are becoming an endangered species.”
The senator’s stance placed him at odds with key Republican leaders, including Vice President JD Vance and Senate Majority Leader John Thune, who spent the weekend lobbying holdout fiscal conservatives to get behind the bill. While the legislation has drawn praise from the White House and allies for its aggressive approach to spending reform and economic growth, critics like Tillis have argued that some provisions go too far.
As speculation mounts over who may run to replace Tillis, Trump’s public statements suggest he is already playing a central role in shaping the field. The outcome of the 2026 primary will likely serve as a litmus test for continued loyalty to the president and his agenda.