GOP Sen’s private texts with Trump reveal blunt exchange behind political fallout

WASHINGTON, DC: In a new revelation, private text messages obtained by Politico Playbook have shed light on Thom Tillis’ unusually blunt exchanges with President Donald Trump, with the senator appearing to make clear what he would and would not tolerate from the president.

Retiring Republican Senator Tillis and President Donald Trump have clashed over policy disagreements, including the 'One Big Beautiful Bill Act'.

In June 2025, Trump threatened to support a primary challenger to Tillis after the senator opposed the legislation. Tillis announced shortly afterward that he would not seek reelection, saying independent thinkers in Washington had become an endangered species.

GOP senator’s angry and profanity-laced exchange with Trump revealed

A pair of angry and profanity-laced messages from outgoing North Carolina Senator Thom Tillis came to light on Friday, Oct 2. The messages were sent to the President in the summer, early this year.

In the blistering texts, Tillis told the president he did not take “bullsh*t” from anyone. He added that he would have told Trump to “f**k yourself” had the president personally threatened him with a primary challenge.

The messages are set to appear in the retiring senator’s upcoming book, 'How to Lose Friends and Antagonize Presidents'.

In a June 6 text message, Tillis pushed back on Trump’s version of their political falling-out and said the president had never directly threatened him with a primary opponent.

Trump ‘never’ threatened Tillis personally

While Trump’s version of their political fallout story claims that Tillis decided not to seek reelection after the President threatened the Senator to support his primary challenger, Tillis has a different story.

He argues that Trump never threatened him personally and that he would be confusing him with other Republicans whom he had threatened with political consequences.

“As I have said before, you NEVER threatened me with a primary challenge,” Tillis said.

“If you had ever threatened me directly with a primary, I would have immediately told you to f*ck yourself, and I would have announced my retirement immediately,” Tillis added, advising Trump to save those threats for “cowards.”

Tillis wrote to Trump after attacking a Truth Social post

Tillis’ May 22 text appeared to be a direct response to a Truth Social broadside Trump posted earlier that day, in which the president branded the Republican “weak and ineffective,” a “Nitpicker,” and a “QUITTER.”

In the message, Tillis told Trump that he wants to help but would not take sh*t from anyone, including the president.

“I still want to help but I don’t take this bullsh*t from anyone, including you Mr President.”

Trump claimed the Tillis ditched his reelection plan after the President’s denial to endorse him and accused the Senator of spending his remaining months in office with “RINO friends, screwing the Republican Party.”