Retiring Republican Senator Thom Tillis has voiced concerns regarding former President Donald Trump's potential reaction to a substantial loss for Republicans in the 2026 midterm elections.
During an appearance on CBS' “60 Minutes,” Tillis directly addressed the possibility of Trump's response to a poor showing for the GOP in November. "I think there’s a risk," Tillis stated, describing such a scenario as "another political unforced error if we do that."
Tillis's remarks came amidst a discussion about Trump's actions surrounding the January 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol, when a mob of his supporters sought to disrupt the certification of the 2020 election results. Tillis characterized the events of that day as "despicable," noting it was the first time in American history that a peaceful transfer of power had not occurred. He added that he wished those who "assaulted police officers" during the riot were "still in prison and serving a very long sentence."
Despite his strong condemnation of the events, Tillis did not vote to convict Trump in the subsequent impeachment trial. He has previously explained that his vote against conviction was due to a belief that the impeachment process had been rushed. Tillis, who has become an increasingly vocal critic of Trump following his announcement of retirement from Congress, is set to leave his Senate seat in January. His new book, "How to Lose Friends and Antagonize Presidents," is scheduled for release this week.