Sen. Thom Tillis Describes Text Exchange with Trump Over Tax Bill

Senator Tillis's Warning to Trump

• ⚠️ Senator Thom Tillis warned President Trump that the tax and spending cuts bill could cost Republicans their majority in the midterms.
• 💡 Tillis compared the potential political fallout to the impact of the Affordable Care Act, calling it "his Obamacare."
• 🗣️ He stated he told the President that the bill didn't need his vote and that he would be quiet and work on the House side.

Trump's Reaction and Tillis's Response

• 📱 Tillis revealed he received a text from Trump after his warning, which he did not fully read.
• ✉️ In response, Tillis texted Trump, "now it's time to start looking for my replacement, because I don't deal with that kind of bullsh*t."
• 🚫 Tillis announced he would not seek reelection, a decision that followed Trump's public threat to help primary him.

Criticism of Presidential Advisers

• 🧠 Tillis expressed that he has a problem with some of the "amateurs advising" President Trump, specifically mentioning Stephen Miller.
• 📉 He believes these advisers do not provide the President with good advice and do not understand organizational dynamics.
• 🏛️ Tillis suggested that these advisers are influential in the current administration, contrasting with the idea that advisers hindered Trump in his first term.

Tillis's Stance on Defense Secretary Nominee

• 🧐 Tillis questioned the capabilities of the Defense Secretary nominee, calling the situation with Ukraine defensive arms "amateurish."
• 🤔 He admitted to wondering if the Senate Armed Services Committee was too generous in assessing the nominee's management capabilities.
• ⚖️ Tillis stated he does not regret his past decision regarding the nominee based on the facts known then, but expressed current doubts.

Reasons for Speaking Out

• 🎤 Tillis indicated that he is more candid now because he is not running for reelection, allowing him to speak more freely.
• 🤝 He acknowledged that while he voted against the bill, he also understood the political conundrum for Republicans in swing states like North Carolina.
• 👏 Tillis is commended for speaking out, though some wish he had done so earlier on other issues.