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Former senator Jeff Flake, one of President Donald Trump’s most vocal criticism during his first administration, reacted to the senator. Thom Tillis’ Sunday retirement plans.
Tillis, who was one of the most vulnerable republicans in the 2026 cycle, had faced threats from Trump to approve a challenger after Tillis voted against the president’s “big and beautiful bill” on Saturday evening.
In a post X, Flake hypothesized that Tillis could have been re -elected, but only if he took certain posts.
“He could win again, but only by taking positions in which he does not believe,” Flake, who was American ambassador to Türkiye During the Biden administration, said.
Former senator Jeff Flake responded to the announcement of Tillis’ retirement on Sunday Sunday. (Getty Images)
“It is an honor to serve in the Senate-but not at all costs,” he added.
Tillis said on Sunday that he planned to retire at the end of his mandate in 2026. In a statement, the North Carolina Republican referred “to the greatest form of hypocrisy in American politics”.
“When people see an independent thought on the other side, they applaud,” said Tillis. “But when these same people see independent thought coming on their side, they despised, ostracized and even censor.”
“In Washington in recent years, it has become more and more obvious that leaders who are ready to adopt bipartite, compromise and demonstrate an independent thought become an endangered species,” he added.
Tillis added that the choice had broken down to spend time with his family or navigate “The Political Theater and Sample Gridlock”, in Washington, DC
“It is not a difficult choice, and I will not ask for re-election,” he said.
Senator Thom Tillis (R-R-NC) starts from a lunch with the Senate Republicans at the American Capitol on June 1, 2023 in Washington, DC. (Anna Moneymaker / Getty Images)
Senator Bernie Sanders, I-VT., Also reacted to the announcement of Tillis with a criticism of Trump.
“I do not agree with the NC Thom Tillis senator on many. But he is right,” said Sanders.
He added: “Trump’s republican party does not allow independent thought. The republican party today is a cult. Either you do it like Trump, or you have come out. Pathetic.”
Trump criticized Tillis on Saturday evening as “Grand -Stre” and expressed interest in interviewing potential primary challengers.
“Many people have come forward by wanting to run in primary off against the” senator Thom ‘Tillis “, said Trump on Truth Social.
President Donald Trump speaks with journalists after announcing a trade agreement with the United Kingdom in the Oval Oval Office of the White House on Thursday, May 8, 2025, in Washington. (AP photo / Evan VUCCI)
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“I will meet them in the coming weeks, looking for someone who will correctly represent the great people of North Carolina and, so important, the United States of America. Thank you for your attention to this question!” He added.
Alex Miller de Fox News Digital contributed to this report.
