Even Republican Senator Thom Tillis of North Carolina, who often votes with the administration, has come out in opposition to President Donald Trump’s most recent spending bill. This decision has generated the most pointed condemnation yet from the ex president. Tillis, who previously informed Trump of his dissent, stated he is looking for a candidate who can effectively represent North Carolina and the nation in the upcoming political landscape.
In a recent statement, Tillis confirmed his position on the legislation, which aims to make tax breaks from Trump’s first presidency permanent while cutting back on Medicaid, food stamps, and green energy investments. The no taxes on tips and pledge of an extra $350 billion to national security measures were plainly unrelated, for example. Senate leadership only advanced this motion forward with the very narrowest of margins—a 51-49 vote. After all that, Tillis turned around and sided with Senator Rand Paul to become just one of two Republican senators to vote against the bill.
“I do believe the president is really focused on getting the tax portion of the bill done, and I support that, full stop,” Tillis said when discussing his stance on the proposed legislation.
Though Tillis admits tax reforms are needed, he is still troubled by other aspects of the bill. Over the next few weeks, he plans to engage with various stakeholders to identify a suitable representative for North Carolina’s interests.
Trump responded to Tillis’s initial no vote on his proposal this way. He characterized Tillis as seeking headlines for an eventual re-election run. “BIG MISTAKE for America, and the Wonderful People of North Carolina!” Trump stated in a recent interview. He implied that Tillis’s motivation was self-interest rather than the interest of his constituents.
“In order to get some publicity for himself, for a possible, but very difficult re-election,” – Donald Trump
Trump is infamous for supporting primary challengers against Republicans who stray from his agenda. Into this unfolding drama, he announced that Chris LaCivita and Tony Fabrizio would spearhead an anti-Massie super PAC. Their goal is to elect people who think like him.
Tillis is enthusiastic in his support for Trump-aligned candidates who follow him. Most notably, he backed Harriet Hageman in her successful primary challenge to unseat Liz Cheney. His latest position on the widely-supported spending bill shows just how tricky that balancing act can be between party loyalty and fiscal responsibility.
As the political landscape continues to change, Tillis and Trump certainly seem to be headed for more showdowns. With elections around the corner, this dispute may have significant implications. It has the potential to redefine what the Republican Party looks like in North Carolina and across the country.