GOP Senator Breaks From Party On Tax Bill, Warns Trump 'Betraying' His Own Voters

Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), unburdened by having to run for reelection, torched his party's "Big Beautiful Bill."

WASHINGTON – Having just announced he won’t seek reelection, Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) felt free to speak his mind about the so-called Big Beautiful Bill on Sunday evening, and it wasn’t very nice.

In a speech on the Senate floor, Tillis said the bill will betray President Donald Trump’s promise not to cut Medicaid and that the president is being advised by “amateurs” who aren’t telling him the truth.

“I’m telling the president that you have been misinformed. You supporting the Senate mark will hurt people who are eligible and qualified for Medicaid,” Tillis said.

Tillis had announced his retirement just hours earlier following an attack from Trump after Tillis opposed the bill on a procedural vote in the Senate. His retirement announcement sets up a battleground state showdown and might give Democrats a decent chance of picking up a Senate seat.

Republicans are rushing to pass Trump’s bill by July Fourth. The legislation uses $1 trillion in cuts to Medicaid to help pay for about $4 trillion in tax cuts favoring wealthy households. Several million fewer people would have Medicaid coverage if the bill becomes law.