Senator Tillis' Private Texts to Trump Revealed in New Book

Outgoing Republican Senator Thom Tillis has revealed a series of candid text messages he sent to President Donald Trump, offering a glimpse into their contentious relationship, according to his forthcoming book, "How to Lose Friends and Antagonize Presidents."

In one message sent earlier this year, Tillis accused Trump of failing and stated he would not tolerate what he described as the president's "b*******." He added, "I care if you fail and right now we are failing."

Tillis also indicated that if Trump had ever directly threatened him with a primary challenge, he would have responded with expletives and immediately announced his retirement. The senator seemed to refer to some Republican colleagues as "cowards and fools," suggesting they should be the recipients of such threats.

The private communications underscore the often-turbulent dynamic between the North Carolina senator and the former president. Tillis and Trump frequently clashed on policy matters, including tax legislation, tariffs, and Justice Department nominations.

Despite their public disagreements, Tillis had previously supported some of Trump's agenda, particularly on immigration and border security. He also defended Trump against certain legal challenges, calling a Manhattan prosecution "politically motivated."

One of their most significant public breaks occurred in June 2025 when Tillis opposed advancing Trump's tax-and-spending legislation, citing concerns over its Medicaid provisions. Trump publicly criticized Tillis at the time, labeling him a "talker and complainer, NOT A DOER!" and suggesting he would support primary challengers against the senator. Shortly after, Tillis announced he would not seek reelection.

Further disagreements arose regarding Trump's tariff policies, which Tillis warned could lead to inflation and market disruption. Tillis also joined Senator John Cornyn in holding up the nomination of Todd Blanche to a senior Justice Department position over concerns about a fund linked to a Trump-related legal settlement.

In September, Tillis publicly criticized Trump's handling of relations with China, describing an interaction with Chinese President Xi Jinping as a "WTF moment." He also called Trump's endorsement of Ken Paxton over incumbent Senator John Cornyn a "colossal mistake."

As Tillis prepares to depart the Senate, his book aims to provide an inside account of the Trump era, depicting a political environment where loyalty was paramount, and dissenters often faced presidential ire.

Despite his public disputes with Trump, Tillis has endorsed Michael Whatley, former chairman of the Republican National Committee, as his successor in the upcoming Senate race. An Elon University poll released September 10 indicates that Democratic candidate Roy Cooper leads Whatley by 11 percentage points in North Carolina's Senate contest.