Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) escalated his feud with former President Donald Trump on Friday, firing back after Trump branded him a “nitpicker” and a “RINO” on social media. Tillis responded by slamming Trump for embracing what he called “stupid stuff” — including a proposed $1.8 billion compensation fund for people prosecuted by the Biden-era Justice Department and a push for 50-year mortgages — warning that these ideas are undermining Republican prospects in the midterm elections.
In a post on X, Tillis argued that Trump is being poorly advised, pointing to several controversial initiatives that have sparked backlash within the Senate Republican conference. He specifically criticized the “anti-weaponization” fund, which he tied to conservative activist Ed Martin, a former U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia. “Using billions of taxpayer dollars to compensate convicted felons and thugs who attacked police,” Tillis wrote, calling the proposal a non-starter.
Tillis also took aim at Trump’s support for 50-year mortgages, linking it to Federal Housing Finance Agency Director Bill Pulte. He accused the administration of “pushing 50-year mortgages and Elizabeth Warren’s housing bill over sound conservative housing policy.” Additionally, he called out Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick for negotiating deals that would give the federal government equity stakes in semiconductor and rare-earth companies, warning that the administration is “using taxpayer money to transform publicly traded companies into state-owned enterprises.”
The senator didn’t stop there. He criticized Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth for “firing our very best generals” and the broader administration for failing to hold Russian President Vladimir Putin accountable for “his systematic kidnapping, rape, torture, and murder of Ukrainian civilians.” Tillis declared, “If opposing these things makes me a RINO, then I gladly accept that nickname. We need Republicans to do well in November, but the stupid stuff is killing our chances!”
The back-and-forth began when Trump posted on Truth Social, mocking Tillis for not seeking re-election. Trump wrote, “People don’t remember that Thom Tillis, the weak and ineffective Senator from the Great State of North Carolina, a State I won, including primaries, 6 consecutive times, didn’t have the courage to fight it out in the Senate.” Trump claimed Tillis abandoned his re-election plans after being told he wouldn’t get an endorsement, adding, “HE WAS A QUITTER!”
The dispute intensified this week after Tillis led GOP opposition to the administration’s proposal for a $1.8 billion legal compensation fund for individuals prosecuted under the Biden-era Justice Department. Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche refused to rule out payments to those convicted of crimes related to the January 6, 2021, Capitol attack, prompting Tillis to call the plan “beyond the pale.” He urged fellow Republicans to speak out, saying, “There’s not one positive thing that could be spun out of this between now and November. This is bad policy, it’s bad timing, and it’s bad politics.”
Other Republicans have joined the revolt, with former Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) calling the fund a “slush fund” that could reward people who assaulted police officers. “So the nation’s top law enforcement official is asking for a slush fund to pay people who assault cops? Utterly stupid, morally wrong – Take your pick,” McConnell said after Blanche met with Senate Republicans to defend the proposal.
The internal GOP rift highlights broader concerns that Trump’s controversial ideas could hurt the party’s chances in November. As Tillis put it, “The stupid stuff is killing our chances.” For more on the growing GOP backlash, see our coverage of GOP senators revolting over the anti-weaponization fund and the Trump-Tillis dispute.
