Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC), long considered a “Republican in Name Only” by grassroots conservatives, found himself in the spotlight this week after a combative interview on CNN’s News Central with Jake Tapper, where he confirmed he would not seek re-election following a very public falling out with President Donald Trump.
Tillis, who voted against Trump’s “Big Beautiful Bill” — a signature legislative package endorsed by the MAGA movement — appeared to posture as a man of principle while distancing himself from the GOP’s dominant figure. But to many conservatives, it looked like political theater designed to appeal to moderates and left-wing media, not voters back home.
“I told the president that he’s clearly got the votes,” Tillis said in the interview, recounting a prior conversation with Trump.
But after Trump issued a warning that he would back a primary challenger, Tillis backed down — and out. The senator confirmed he told Trump, via text: “Now it’s time to start looking for my replacement, because I don’t deal with that kind of bulls*.**”
The real story? According to Michael Schwarz of The Western Journal, Tillis isn’t making a noble exit — he’s retreating. His chances of surviving a Trump-backed primary challenge in 2026 were slim at best, and he knew it.
“Tillis has so totally aligned himself with the notorious Washington, D.C. ‘Swamp’ that he parrots establishment talking points,” Schwarz wrote, particularly noting Tillis’ narrative on January 6 and his general opposition to the America First movement.
By bailing out now, Tillis avoids the embarrassment of a crushing defeat and instead positions himself for a soft landing in the media class — likely as a CNN or MSNBC analyst, Schwarz speculated.
He joins a growing list of “respectable” Republicans, like Liz Cheney and Adam Kinzinger, who alienated GOP voters and then sought validation from liberal circles for their anti-Trump credentials.
Conservatives are treating the news as a win. Another entrenched Swamp Republican is on the way out, and the path is being cleared for a Trump-aligned candidate in North Carolina who actually reflects the will of the GOP base.
