Thom Tillis publishes blunt private exchanges with Trump amid policy rifts
As Republican Senator Thom Tillis prepares to leave Capitol Hill, he has released explosive private text messages exchanged with President Trump, exposing the depth of their fractious relationship. The messages, to be featured in Tillis' forthcoming book, show him confronting Trump directly over policy disagreements and refusing to tolerate what he called the president's behaviour, using profanity to emphasise his point. This public airing of their private tensions underscores growing rifts within the Republican party between Trump loyalists and those willing to challenge the president.
The North Carolina senator and Trump have clashed repeatedly over major issues including tax-and-spending legislation, tariffs, Justice Department nominations and China policy. In one text, Tillis told Trump: "I still want to help you, but I don't take this b******* from anyone, including you Mr President," and warned him they were "failing." After Trump publicly attacked Tillis as a "talker and complainer, NOT A DOER" and signalled he would support a primary challenger, Tillis announced he would not seek reelection. Tillis' book, titled How to Lose Friends and Antagonize Presidents, is due out 6 October.
- Republican Senator Thom Tillis releases profanity-filled private texts to Trump
- Trump attacks Tillis as "not a doer," prompting senator's retirement announcement
- Disagreements expose divisions within Republicans over Trump loyalty
New here? Start with this
Thom Tillis is a Republican Senator from North Carolina who has decided to leave Capitol Hill at the end of his current term. He has had a strained relationship with President Trump, marked by significant policy disagreements between them. The two men have clashed repeatedly over important issues despite being members of the same party.
Tillis and Trump have disagreed on major policy matters including tax legislation, tariffs, Justice Department appointments and China policy. The senator has communicated his dissatisfaction with the president's approach to these issues in their private conversations. These disagreements represent a genuine split in their political priorities and approach to governance.
The tensions between Tillis and Trump reflect a broader division within the Republican party between those strongly loyal to the president and those willing to challenge him on policy grounds. When Trump publicly attacked Tillis and suggested backing a rival candidate, the senator made the decision not to seek reelection. The conflict between the two men illustrates deeper fractures within the modern Republican party.
Both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Tillis' publication exposes how the president actually conducts himself in private communications with party members, revealing patterns of behaviour that voters and fellow Republicans should understand. His willingness to directly challenge Trump, captured in these messages, demonstrates that principled disagreement exists within the Republican party and demonstrates that not all members toe the line unquestioningly. This transparency serves democratic accountability by showing the public how their president treats those who dare challenge him on substantive policy grounds.
The case against
These were private communications, and publishing them after announcing retirement appears opportunistic rather than principled—it is considerably easier to speak boldly once one has already decided to leave office. Breaking confidentiality damages the ability of political figures to communicate candidly with one another, knowing their private words might later be published for commercial gain. The move is ultimately self-serving, using conflict with Trump as a book product rather than as a serious attempt to effect change or advance principle, and it undermines important norms that allow frank political conversation without fear of subsequent public exposure.
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Originally published by Daily Mail as “Republican Senator’s explosive private texts to Trump revealed as he blasts president with profanity-laced missive”.