Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., on Sunday condemned those who have promised to fund primary challenges against Republican senators who oppose newly elected President Donald Trump’s Cabinet picks, calling them “political opportunists.”
“We’re not even in the new administration,” Tillis said during an interview on “Fox News Sunday.” “We haven’t even seen the background checks that I know the administration is sending our way.”
“So there’s a lot of information to be gathered, and these people taking on the key challenges and running ads look more like political opportunists than me than they do like thoughtful members of the Republican Party,” Tillis added.
Tillis said he does not believe the threats are coming from Trump. “A lot of these are third parties who make money from the fundraising campaigns to put some advertising in there, but double-digit percentages go into their pockets,” he said. “Here’s what I would say to them: If they really support President Trump’s nominees, they should stand down and let the nominees win on their own merits, and I think most of them will do that.”
He added that he does not believe the pressure campaigns of some activists are in “good service” to Trump.
Tillis’ comments come after tech mogul and Trump ally Elon Musk suggested he would support intraparty challenges to those in the Republican Party who do not support Trump’s nominees: tech mogul Elon Musk, who raised more than $ 250 million to boost the elections. Trump.
Several of Trump’s picks have drawn criticism from members of the Senate who must vote to confirm their nominations, including former Democratic Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, whom Trump picked to serve as director of National Intelligence, and Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Trump’s pick. direct the Department of Health and Human Services.
Tech billionaire Elon Musk has spent more than $250 million supporting Trump’s re-election bid.
Last month, Musk responded to reports that he was threatening to fund primary challenges to House Republicans that were “not aligned with Trump’s agenda.”
One Musk responded to the user saying, “How else? There is no other way.”
And earlier this month, Charlie Kirk, founder of Musk and Turning Point USA, threatened to back leading challengers to Sen. Mike Rounds, R-S.D., who questioned Trump’s nomination of Kash Patel to lead the FBI.
“Senator Rounds, you are up for re-election in 2026. If you vote against any of Trump’s nominees, a primary challenge would not be difficult,” Kirk wrote in a post on X.
“Those who oppose reforms will lose their primaries. Period,” Musk replied.
Kirk also criticized Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, who previously indicated she had reservations about the nomination of former Fox News host Pete Hegseth to lead the Defense Department.
Grassroots activists in Iowa have publicly criticized Ernst’s hesitation on Hegseth, and Kirk called out Ernst and Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., earlier this month, writing about to end Pete Hegseth… Pete Hegseth is the red line. If you vote against him, there will be primaries.”
The conservative group Heritage Action also announced last week that it would launch a $150,000 digital campaign targeting Senate Republicans in Alaska, Maine, Louisiana, Iowa, North Carolina, Kentucky, Indiana, Utah and South Dakota who are undecided about supporting Trump’s nominees.
“On November 5, the Americans gave President Trump a mandate to implement and pass on his top priorities as quickly as possible. The Senate must now do its part to confirm and prepare Cabinet appointments to ensure this Conservative mandate can be effectively delivered.” Heritage Executive Vice President Ryan Walker said in a statement announcing the campaign.
The pressure campaign and primary threats are not the first time Tillis has come under scrutiny for diverging from Trump. In 2023, the Republican Party of North Carolina condemned Tillis at their annual convention, citing Tillis’ “egregious violations of our party platform.”
On NBC News’ Meet the Press Sunday, Graham dismissed the pressure campaign against Republican senators weighing Trump’s nominees, telling moderator Kristen Welker, “Ultimately, people are going to push you to do things here.” It’s up to you to resist.”
He added that he is open to meeting with the nominees and weighing each of them fairly on their merits, saying: “But I’m going to do what I think is best for the country, and that’s a process that works .”
Tillis on Sunday downplayed the hesitation of some Republican senators who have not yet publicly endorsed all of Trump’s nominees, including Patel and Hegseth.
“Kash Patel, who I’m working with because he’s on my jurisdiction committee, will have solid Republican support in the Senate and when he comes out of committee,” Tillis said.
About Hegseth, Tillis added that the nominee “will have to go to the committee and answer some questions about organizational experience, some of his past marriages, things like that. That’s all fair game if you are.” run for a Cabinet or sub-Cabinet position.”
Spokespeople for the Trump transition team, Turning Point Action and Heritage Action did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Tillis’ comments.
This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
