Republican Senator Thom Tillis has released private text messages exchanged with President Donald Trump, revealing a contentious relationship marked by Tillis' blunt criticism and frustration. In the texts, Tillis accused Trump of failing and warned him he would not tolerate the president's behavior, using profanity in his communications. The messages are part of Tillis’ upcoming book, "How to Lose Friends and Antagonize Presidents," which details his experiences with Trump and other Republicans' reluctance to challenge the president.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-10-02,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
- Sign up HERE to our DC Insider newsletter - your guide to what's rocking Washington, rattling the White House and setting tongues wagging on the Hill
As Republican Senator Thom Tillis prepares to leave Capitol Hill, he's dropped explosive private messages between him and President Donald Trump, shedding new light on their already tumultuous relationship.
asserted
he → sign → relationship
Tillis and Trump have gone head to head on a majority of issues over the past several years, with their clashes becoming increasingly public as Tillis broke with the president on everything from Trump's sweeping tax-and-spending bill to tariffs and Justice Department nominations.
asserted
Tillis → go → tariffs
Tillis sent Trump a series of blunt text messages earlier this year, accusing the president of failing and warning him that he would not tolerate what he described as Trump's 'b*******,' according to Politico Playbook.
uncertain
he → send → Playbook
The messages are featured in Tillis' forthcoming book, How to Lose Friends and Antagonize Presidents.
asserted
messages → feature → Presidents
In one explosive message, Tillis told Trump, 'I still want to help you, but I don't take this b******* from anyone, including you Mr President.'
asserted
I → tell → you
He went further, saying, 'I care if you fail and right now we are failing.'
asserted
we → go → ?
Tillis then insisted that Trump had never directly threatened him with a primary challenge.
'
asserted
Trump → insist → challenge
If you had ever threatened me directly with a primary, I would have immediately told you to f*** yourself, and I would have announced my retirement immediately.
asserted
I → threaten → retirement
A text message North Carolina Senator Thom Tillis sent to President Donald Trump, featured in his new book.
asserted
Tillis → send → book
Tillis the president he's not going to take his 'b*******' and seemingly refers to his Republican colleagues as 'cowards'
asserted
he → go → cowards
In another text message, Tillis tells Trump if he had threatened him with a primary, he would have said 'f*** yourself,' and would have announced his retirement 'immediately'
asserted
he → tell → retirement
Tillis' upcoming 'no BS-book,' due out October 6, he gives readers his account of a Trump world where loyalists compete to please the president, Republicans fear crossing him and MAGA's most outspoken voices can sometimes become their own worst enemies
Tillis then took a jab at fellow Republicans.
asserted
Tillis → give → Republicans
'Save those threats and head games for cowards and fools.'
Tillis' relationship with Trump has never been entirely straightforward.
The North Carolina Republican supported several elements of Trump's agenda, particularly on immigration and border security.
asserted
Republican → save → immigration
At the beginning of Trump's second term, Tillis said he was 'proud to support President Trump's vision.'
asserted
he → say → vision
He also defended Trump during his criminal cases, arguing that the Manhattan prosecution was politically motivated and saying the case 'doesn't pass the smell test.'
But the relationship deteriorated as Tillis began breaking with Trump on major policy questions.
asserted
Tillis → defend → questions
The most consequential break came in June 2025, when Tillis opposed advancing Trump's sweeping tax-and-spending legislation, citing concerns about its Medicaid provisions.
asserted
Tillis → come → provisions
The most consequential break came in June 2025, when Tillis opposed advancing Trump's sweeping tax-and-spending legislation, citing concerns about its Medicaid provisions
In September, Tillis publicly criticized Trump's approach to China after Trump's warm reception of Chinese President Xi Jinping, describing the episode as a 'WTF moment'
Despite his fallout with Trump, Tillis has backed Republican Senate nominee Michael Whatley, the former chairman of the Republican National Committee, in the race to succeed him
Trump responded publicly, calling Tillis a 'talker and complainer, NOT A DOER!' and accusing him of 'grandstanding.'
asserted
Trump → come → grandstanding
Trump also said he would meet with Republicans interested in challenging Tillis in a GOP primary.
asserted
he → say → primary
The following day, Tillis announced that he would not seek reelection.
asserted
he → announce → reelection
Trump celebrated the decision, writing that it was 'Great News!' and criticizing Republicans who opposed his legislation.
asserted
who → celebrate → legislation
Tillis continued to break with Trump on several issues.
asserted
Tillis → continue → issues
He warned that Trump's broad tariff policies could fuel inflation, provoke retaliation and disrupt financial markets, while expressing support for more targeted tariffs.
He also clashed with the administration over the nomination of Todd Blanche to a senior Justice Department position, joining Senator John Cornyn in holding up the nomination over concerns surrounding a proposed $1.8 billion Justice Department fund connected to a Trump-related legal settlement.
Trump responded by attacking the senators and saying their political careers had been ended by his actions.
uncertain
careers → warn → actions
Then in September, Tillis publicly criticized Trump's approach to China after Trump's warm reception of Chinese President Xi Jinping, describing the episode as a 'WTF moment.
asserted
Tillis → criticize → moment
'
Tillis also called Trump's endorsement of Ken Paxton over incumbent Texas Senator John Cornyn a 'colossal mistake.'
asserted
Tillis → call → Cornyn
As Tillis prepares to leave the Senate, in his upcoming 'no BS-book,' due out October 6, he gives readers his account of a Trump world where loyalists compete to please the president, Republicans fear crossing him and MAGA's most outspoken voices can sometimes become their own worst enemies.
asserted
voices → prepare → him
Despite his fallout with Trump, Tillis has backed Republican Senate nominee Michael Whatley, the former chairman of the Republican National Committee, in the race to succeed him, saying he is 'happy to endorse' Whatley and willing to help if called upon.
asserted
he → back → Whatley
An Elon University poll released September 10 shows former Democratic Governor Roy Cooper leading Whatley 49 percent to 38 percent among likely voters in North Carolina's Senate race.
asserted
Cooper → release → race
The Daily Mail reached out to the White House and Tillis for comment.
asserted
Mail → reach → comment
The Aporia
