'Free agent' Thom Tillis is now bad news for Trump: MSNBC

According to the entire panel appearing on MSNBC with host Alex Witt, the decision by Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC) to not run for re-election in 2026 is not good news for Donald Trump.

With the president already threatening to help another conservative primary the incumbent, Tillis no longer having to worry about another election allows him to vote as he pleases without fear of Trump.

As MSNBC's Sahil Kapur explained, "It's a big deal, a huge deal for the Senate, given that he is now a free agent to vote as he pleases. Ee saw several months ago during the debate around defense secretary, the nominee at the time, Pete Hegseth. He [Tillis] was agonizing about that decision he ended up supporting him, which to a lot of us here looked like a sign that he wanted to run for reelection, knowing that it would have been politically problematic for him to go against one of Trump's early priorities in terms of nominations."

"Fast forward to a few months later, it looks like he's had enough," he added.

Political strategist Basil Smikle contributed, "North Carolina is a competitive state for democrats, so its really, really interesting to see what comes next."

GOP strategist Susan Del Percio was asked about the impact it will have on the budget bill still winding its way through the Senate.

"He was a no vote and this just cemented it and it basically, I think Tillis was doing a little crisis management for his overall career and life because he said, enough, take me out of the equation. I'm going to vote no and you can't come after me after that. Like you can't threaten me," she replied.

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