Exclusive: Tillis describes moment he decided not to run again

Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) said Wednesday he decided during a conversation with President Trump about the "big, beautiful bill" that he wouldn't seek reelection. Why it matters: The Republican's retirement announcement came amid Trump-backed primary threats over Tillis' objections to the president's marquee tax and spending legislation. "There was just a moment when I was having a discussion with the president," Tillis told Axios' Stef Kight at an Axios News Shapers event Wednesday. "I felt so strongly about what we needed to change in the bill with respect to Medicaid that I needed to take off the table that my election prospects would have any relationship with the extent to which I was going to stand down or otherwise change my position.""So I thought it was a good time just to tell the president that he should start looking for a replacement," he added, in his first interview before a live audience since announcing his retirement. Tillis ultimately voted against the bill. Catch up quick: Tillis faced a brutal fight to keep his seat, both in the general election and with the potential of Trump-backed primary challengers. "I'm not the happy warrior type that would just run for the sake of running," he said. "I would only run if I was convinced that there was a path."He was first elected to the Senate in 2014.

Comments

World news

Independent

Pro bull riding league files objection of Dr. Phil’s media bankruptcy saying it is owed $181 million

about 2 hours ago

Independent

Trump is losing support from men as approval rating drops below 50%

about 2 hours ago

Independent

‘This wasn’t justice’: Family of Kaylee Goncalves furious at Bryan Kohberger prosecutor’s plea deal in Idaho coed murders

about 2 hours ago

Incoming CBS owner promises Trump’s FCC it will review ‘complaints of bias’ at news network and eliminate DEI policies

Independent

Comments

Similar News

Exclusive: Trump admin seeks new jet to shuttle around Attorney General Pam Bondi and FBI Director Kash Patel

Exclusive: Sen. Slotkin says Dems are "divided" on Trump 2.0

Exclusive: Walmart reveals how it fights fakes on Marketplace

Exclusive: Empire State Building tour guide sues over ‘career-ending PTSD’ after getting stuck in elevator 67 floors up

Exclusive: ‘Food thief’ sues ex-employer over ‘shame’ of being fired for eating coworker’s bagged lunch

Exclusive: Don Jr. and Eric Trump’s Middle East jaunt cost US taxpayers over $40,000 in hotel rooms and rental cars

EXCLUSIVE: Leaked audio of CBC disciplinary meeting with former TV host Travis Dhanraj

Members only: India's rich and famous ditch old-school clubs for exclusive hangouts

Exclusive: ‘Food thief’ sues ex-employer over ‘shame’ of being fired for eating coworker’s bagged lunch

Exclusive: Military contractor says she was fired for noting problem that ‘jeopardized the safety of U.S civilians and troops’

Exclusive: Longtime critic Sen. Warren defends Fed in White House attacks

Exclusive: Most states allow jails and prisons to charge inmates for own incarceration

Rise in school exclusions in England including among pupils six or younger

Exclusive: GOP urged to "get to work" selling Trump's controversial megabill

Exclusive: DOJ, FBI conclude Jeffrey Epstein had no "client list," committed suicide

World news

Pro bull riding league files objection of Dr. Phil’s media bankruptcy saying it is owed $181 million

Trump is losing support from men as approval rating drops below 50%

‘This wasn’t justice’: Family of Kaylee Goncalves furious at Bryan Kohberger prosecutor’s plea deal in Idaho coed murders

Incoming CBS owner promises Trump’s FCC it will review ‘complaints of bias’ at news network and eliminate DEI policies

Uber will soon allow female passengers and drivers to stop being paired with men

Questions swirl after GOP senator appears to freeze in TV interview - but he blames it on the ear piece

From panicked messages to last-minute plea deal: A timeline of the Idaho murder case

Congress subpoenas Ghislaine Maxwell and plans a prison interview even after House Speaker questioned her credibility

Vance’s trip to an RNC fundraiser flooded with ‘MeowTucket’ protests to remind him of his cat lady gaffe

FEMA chief rejects criticism, calls Texas floods response 'a model' for dealing with disaster

Turkey wildfires leave 10 dead and 14 in hospital

Judge rejects Trump administration bid to unseal Epstein grand jury files

One killed in Listeria outbreak sparking urgent recall on supermarket ready meals

Ten killed after being surrounded by raging wildfire in Turkey

Russia-Ukraine Peace Talks Test the Efficacy of U.S. Threats

Can Europe Break Free From China’s Rare-Earth Grip?

Afghanistan Can’t Handle Another Refugee Crisis

White House rejects report Trump included in Epstein files as ‘fake news’

How the Jeffrey Epstein scandal became the mother of all conspiracy theories

Should we feel weird about the Coldplay cheating drama?

What the heck is “corn sweat” and is it making the Midwest more dangerous?

Syria's new president has won over Trump but his chequered past is still causing concern

Tesla looks to cheaper model as revenue suffers worst drop in over a decade

‘Psychopath’: Victim’s sister tears into killer Bryan Kohberger at sentencing

Immigrant families threaten legal action over new Quebec directive limiting daycare access

Ford government plans to grant asylum seekers work permits via constitutional clause

Popular Calgary-area restaurant investigated after diners get sick

Hearings underway to determine Lapu Lapu Day attack suspect’s fitness to stand trial

France’s Macron sues U.S. media personality for claiming his wife is a man

Russian issues chilling 'we can destroy you' WW3 threat to UK

Gazans 'wasting away' as mass starvation spreads, humanitarian groups warn

Bryan Kohberger gets four life sentences for murdering Idaho college students

Ten workers killed battling wildfires in Turkey

OK, is Martin Van Buren responsible for the tiny word that punches above its weight?

Investment Fund Seals Trade Deal for Japan and Expands Trump’s Influence

Thursday Briefing: Your Russia Questions Answered

Guard at U.S. Embassy in Norway Charged With Spying for Russia and Iran

Macrons Sue Candace Owens, Accusing Her of Defamation

‘They’re all feeling it’: Evacuees still waiting out the wildfires in Winnipeg

White House trots out Tulsi Gabbard to push narrative Obama led Russian interference claims and ‘coup’ against Trump

‘It’s racist’: Latino tenants who sued their landlord got threatening message about ICE

Trump ‘clearly furious’ that his summer victory tour has been swallowed by Epstein fallout, insiders reveal

DOJ told Trump that his name is among others in the Epstein files: report

Judges deny releasing Ghislaine Maxwell grand jury transcripts from cases in New York and Florida

Contender, largest great white shark tagged in Atlantic, spotted off Nantucket

Emotional judge calls Bryan Kohberger a ‘faceless coward’ as he sentenced him to die in prison

Judge orders Kilmar Abrego Garcia’s release from jail as ICE blocked from immediately deporting him

Trump’s freeze on $6 billion in education funds could lead to school closures, lawmakers warn

Ilhan Omar labels GOP ‘the pedophile protection party’ for dodging vote on releasing Epstein files

Plane nosedives into busy highway killing two in huge fireball

Pro-Palestine protesters block Israeli cruise ship from docking on Greek island

England’s new Ashes option can spare Shoaib Bashir the embarrassment

Some Democrats may finally be ready to play dirty over redistricting

Judge denies Trump request to release Epstein transcripts in Florida

Security personnel shot at Palestinians at Gaza aid distribution centre, claims ex-guard

Manitoba, federal ag ministers announce funding for local food processors

Blue Jays giving Proline players much to ponder

Calgary parents sentenced to 6 years in prison for boy’s scalding death

Squalor, neglect and abuse rife at U.S. migrant detention centres, say reports

Cabinet minister who criticized interpreter says she’s focused on doing better