North Carolina Republican was one of only two GOP senators who voted against advancing Trump's 'big, beautiful bill'
Sen. Tillis announces he will not seek re-election
Fox News senior congressional correspondent Chad Pergram discusses Sen. Thom Tillis’s announcement that he will not run for re-election on ‘Fox News Live.’
President Donald Trump celebrated the retirement announcement of one of the two Republicans who voted against advancing his "big, beautiful bill."
"Great News! ‘Senator’ Thom Tillis will not be seeking reelection," Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social.
"For all cost-cutting Republicans, of which I am one, REMEMBER, you still have to get reelected. Don’t go too crazy! We will make it all up, times 10, with GROWTH, more than ever before," he continued in a separate post.
The North Carolina Republican announced on Sunday that he would not seek re-election in the 2026 cycle. Tillis would have been among the most vulnerable Republicans running next year. He faced threats from Trump to face a challenger after his vote against the president’s agenda Saturday night.
SCOOP: HOUSE REPUBLICAN EYES BID FOR THOM TILLIS SENATE SEAT AFTER TRUMP ATTACK
President Trump celebrates Tillis' retirement as 'Great News!' after senator defied him on his "big, beautiful" bill. (Getty Images)
The lawmaker voted against advancing the bill and is likely to vote against final passage, because deep Medicaid cuts inside the colossal bill brought on changes to the Medicaid provider tax rate.
THOM TILLIS ANNOUNCES RETIREMENT FROM SENATE AFTER CLASH WITH TRUMP
Sen. Thom Tillis voted against President Donald Trunp's "one big beautiful bill." (Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)
Tillis railed against the slow death of bipartisanship in Washington in a statement.
"In Washington over the last few years, it's become increasingly evident that leaders who are willing to embrace bipartisanship, compromise, and demonstrate independent thinking are becoming an endangered species," he said.
President Donald Trump, left, listens as Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., right, speaks during a meeting with Republican Senators on immigration in the Roosevelt Room in the White House, Thursday, Jan. 4, 2018, in Washington. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)
His announcement also comes after Trump spent much of Saturday evening blasting Tillis as a "grandstander" and vowing to interview potential primary challengers, while Vice President JD Vance, Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., and his leadership team worked over holdout fiscal hawks.
"Numerous people have come forward wanting to run in the Primary against ‘Senator Thom’ Tillis," Trump said on Truth Social. "I will be meeting with them over the coming weeks, looking for someone who will properly represent the Great People of North Carolina and, so importantly, the United States of America. Thank you for your attention to this matter!"
Stepheny Price is a writer for Fox News Digital and Fox Business. She covers topics including missing persons, homicides, national crime cases, illegal immigration, and more. Story tips and ideas can be sent to
