Outgoing North Carolina Sen. Thom Tillis (R) delivered a blistering critique of President Donald Trump and his administration during a candid appearance on CNN's "State of the Union." Speaking with Jake Tapper, Tillis condemned a potential peace deal with Iran, the newly created "Anti-Weaponization Fund," and Trump's endorsement in a contentious Texas GOP Senate runoff.
Tillis Slams DOJ Fund
Tillis, who announced his retirement effective 2027, called the Department of Justice's $1.776 billion settlement fund for "victims of lawfare" a "bogus payout pot" that was "stupid on stilts." He argued that individuals convicted for their roles in the January 6 Capitol attack could be eligible, stating, "You're talking about people who assaulted Capitol police officers on January the 6th, were then convicted. Many of them pled guilty, or they were convicted by a jury of their peers. They could be eligible for this."
Criticism of Iran Deal and Hegseth
Before the administration announced a tentative agreement to de-escalate tensions with Iran, Tillis expressed skepticism, saying the reported terms "don't make sense." He also took aim at Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, claiming his handling of Iran and the Ukraine-Russia conflict made former Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem "look like a five-star recruit."
Harsh Words for Paxton
Tillis reserved his sharpest criticism for Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, who recently received Trump's endorsement. Comparing Paxton to infamous serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer, Tillis said, "To call Paxton 'ethically challenged' is to call Jeffrey Dahmer 'suffering from an eating disorder.'" He added that Paxton would be "an anchor on our caucus" and endorsed incumbent Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) in the upcoming runoff.
Trump Responds
Trump reacted to Tillis's earlier interview with Politico, calling him a "quitter" on Truth Social. In response, Tillis told Tapper, "If the Republican Party stands for standing with insurrectionists who assaulted police officers, turning a blind eye towards [Putin's] actions, and negotiating an Iran deal that may be subpar to the Obama-era agreement, then don't call me a Republican. Just call me a conservative."
