Republican Senator Thom Tillis announced Sunday that he will not seek reelection in 2026, delivering a surprise decision just hours after President Donald Trump vowed to back a primary challenger against him. The announcement comes in the wake of Tillis’ high-profile vote against advancing Trump’s sweeping “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” in the Senate.

In a detailed statement, the North Carolina senator said stepping away from a third term was “not a hard choice,” citing frustration with “political theatre and partisan gridlock” in Washington. “I’m done navigating it,” he added.

Tillis’ opposition to the legislation, particularly its Medicaid cutbacks, drew swift rebuke from Trump, who accused the senator of “grandstanding” and warned he had made a “BIG MISTAKE for America.” Trump later took to social media to react to Tillis’ retirement, writing, “Great News!”

Tillis’ decision aligns him with a growing number of lawmakers disenchanted by the polarized climate on Capitol Hill. He compared his experience to that of former Democratic Senators Joe Manchin and Kyrsten Sinema, who also chose not to seek reelection after clashing with their party leadership. “They were shunned after they courageously refused to cave to their party bosses,” Tillis said, calling the environment hostile to bipartisanship and independent thinking.

A vocal critic of the bill’s Medicaid provisions, Tillis had warned for weeks that North Carolina stood to suffer the steepest losses in coverage under the Senate proposal. His opposition contributed to the razor-thin vote that left the legislation stalled in the chamber.

Despite Trump’s mounting pressure and looming threats of a primary challenge, Tillis stood by his vote, arguing that Republicans must embrace fiscal responsibility and policy nuance — even in the face of political blowback.

His departure sets the stage for a heated 2026 race in a key battleground state and opens the door for Trump-aligned candidates to reshape the party’s direction.