Thom Tillis announces retirement hours after Trump threatened to field primary challenger

Republican North Carolina Sen. Thom Tillis will not seek reelection, according to a statement released by his office Sunday afternoon.

Tillis’ retirement announcement came just hours after President Donald Trump threatened to back a primary challenger over the senator’s decision to vote against advancing the president’s tax and immigration bill. The North Carolina Republican was viewed as one of the most vulnerable GOP senators up for reelection in 2026 and was expected to face a competitive Democratic opponent.

“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,” Tillis said in a statement. “As many of my colleagues have noticed over the last year, and at times even joked about, I haven’t exactly been excited about running for another term.”

“That is true since the choice is between spending another six years navigating the political theatre and partisan gridlock in Washington or spending that time with the love of my life, Susan, our two children, three beautiful grandchildren, and the rest of our extended family back home,” Tillis added. “ It’s not a hard choice, and I will not be seeking re-election.”

Tillis became the target of Trump’s ire after he announced he would be opposing a procedural vote to advance the Senate version of Trump’s “big, beautiful” bill.” The North Carolina Republican balked at throwing his support behind the president’s landmark domestic policy bill, citing its ambitious reforms to Medicaid that he argued would result in hundreds of thousands of his constituents losing access to health care.

Trump fired off three posts on the social media platform Truth Social Saturday night and Sunday morning excoriating Tillis’ “no” vote and threatening to field a primary challenge against him.

“Numerous people have come forward wanting to run in the Primary against ‘Senator Thom’ Tillis,” Trump wrote late Saturday evening. “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.”

Trump continued his criticism of Tillis Sunday morning, arguing the moderate GOP senator has “hurt the great people of North Carolina” and is worse than Republican Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul, who was the other Republican to oppose advancing the bill to a vote on final passage.

“Tillis is a talker and complainer, NOT A DOER!” Trump wrote. “He’s even worse than Rand “Fauci” Paul!”

Less than three hours later, Tillis announced he would not seek a third term.

The North Carolina Republican upset the president’s MAGA base earlier in January after wavering on Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s nomination. Though Tillis ultimately supplied the necessary vote to confirm Hegseth, he reportedly considered voting “no” on his nomination until the final hours before the vote.

Tillis also enraged the president’s base after playing an instrumental role in blocking the confirmation of former U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Ed Martin, citing disagreements with Martin over the January 6th riots at the U.S. Capitol.

National Republican Senatorial Committee chairman Tim Scott of South Carolina expressed confidence that Republicans would hold Tillis’ seat in a statement following the retirement announcement. The statement made no mention of Tillis, who has served the state in the Senate since 2015.

“President Trump has won North Carolina three times, and the state’s been represented by two Republican Senators for over a decade,” Scott said. “That streak will continue in 2026 when North Carolinians elect a conservative leader committed to advancing an agenda of opportunity, prosperity, and security.”

The White House did not immediately respond to the Daily Caller News Foundation’s request for comment.

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