President Donald Trump criticized Republican North Carolina Senator Tom Tillis in a social media post on Saturday after he voted for the “Big, Beautiful Bill (BBB).”
“Sen. Tom Tillis keeps claiming he’s offering a 68% tax cut, which seems to contradict the largest tax cut in U.S. history. Meanwhile, Republicans are failing to grasp how significant the debt extension he provided to Democrats is ahead of the November 5th election. It’s frustrating when people seem to truly dislike our country,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
“He’s fond of China, where they’ve invested heavily, causing environmental damage, and made windmills that lead to incredibly high energy costs. I’ve had a strong connection with North Carolina—I’ve been there three times, pouring resources into recovery from the recent devastating floods. Yet, where was Tillis? He’s MIA, despite being a Republican. North Carolina won’t let one of its senators take the spotlight for political grandstanding, especially with a tough reelection ahead,” Trump added.
He hinted at possibly backing a primary challenger to Tillis in the next election. “Many are interested in running against ‘Senator Tom’ Tillis. I will be meeting with some promising candidates in the coming weeks to connect with the great people of North Carolina and the United States,” Trump mentioned.
Tillis was one of only two Republican senators to vote against the bill, expressing concerns that Medicaid cuts would negatively impact his constituents. “I really examined this issue for North Carolina, but I cannot approve this bill as it stands, as it would result in significant funding losses for hospitals and rural communities in our state,” he stated.
“This version of the bill includes drastic Medicaid changes that would harm North Carolina, and I can’t back it. The Senate ought to revert to the House’s sensible approach regarding Medicaid reform, which addresses important work requirements,” Tillis tweeted.
He suggested returning the bill to the House to include reforms aimed at eliminating waste, fraud, and abuse, coupled with work requirements for able-bodied adults. “We need something better. The Senate should adopt the House’s Medicaid strategy, which includes practical reforms to target waste and ensuring taxpayer benefits reach those who are in genuine need,” Tillis emphasized.
“There’s a lot to appreciate about the rest of the BBB, like extending the historic Trump tax cuts, boosting child tax credits, and ensuring substantial funding for border security without jeopardizing rural areas or hospitals, especially for many in North Carolina.”
Trump concluded his statement by commending the BBB’s provisions and issued a stern warning to Tillis about opposing the bill. “The U.S. aims to reduce taxes on tips, overtime wages, Social Security, car loan interest, while also prioritizing strong military and employment-friendly tax policies.”
