GOP Senator Warns Trump Putin Will Betray Him, Risking American Lives
Senator Thom Tillis asserts that the former president's ties with Russia's leader are dangerous and could have dire consequences.
Republican Senator Thom Tillis has warned that Donald Trump's close relationship with Russian President Vladimir Putin puts American lives at risk and that Putin will ultimately betray the former president. Tillis made these remarks during an appearance on NBC's Meet the Press, following reports that Trump lifted sanctions on Russia as part of a deal to secure Russian oil without a commitment from Moscow to end the war in Ukraine.
Tillis argued that Putin cannot be trusted, citing Russia's alleged provision of intelligence on US force locations to Iran and its general ties with Tehran. "And I will guarantee you at the first opportunity Putin has to embarrass or undermine President Trump, he will," Tillis stated. When questioned if the oil deal was endangering American lives, the senator responded unequivocally, "It absolutely will." He characterized the situation as "bad people hanging out with bad people, putting American lives at risk, particularly our Special Operators and people forward deployed."
The North Carolina senator urged US intelligence officials to alert Trump to the dangers of trusting Putin. "Look, this guy has a murderous rap sheet. He cannot be trusted," Tillis added.
Tillis also criticized Trump's suggestion that Ukraine should find a new leader. "The president needs to realize that tens of thousands of people have died over this illegal invasion, and I get it that he may be frustrated," Tillis said. "But he needs to understand who the good guys are in this disagreement and who the bad guys are, and it's not even close."
The senator further questioned the legality of Trump's decision to lift sanctions on Russia, referencing a 2022 Senate measure that banned Russian oil imports until certain conditions, such as Russia's withdrawal from Ukraine, were met. "I believe that he may be," Tillis responded when asked if he thought Trump was breaking the law. He indicated that he and Senator Jeanne Shaheen plan to issue a joint statement warning of "deadly consequences" from easing pressure on Putin.
Tillis's past interactions with Trump have been complex. While he previously supported Trump's agenda, particularly on immigration and border security, their relationship soured over policy disagreements. A significant break occurred in June 2025 when Tillis opposed a tax-and-spending bill, leading Trump to publicly criticize him. Trump also suggested he would support challengers against Tillis in a GOP primary, after which Tillis announced he would not seek reelection. Despite these clashes, Tillis stated during the interview that he still desires Republican success in the upcoming November elections.