Retiring ‘RINO’ GOP senator slammed by Trump fires back: ‘The stupid stuff is killing our chances’
Trump said the outgoing senator "can have all the fun he wants for a few months, with some of his RINO friends, screwing the Republican Party."
Mason Reed 
A retiring Republican senator fired back at Donald Trump on Friday, pushing back against the former president's harsh criticism by suggesting that Trump’s advisors are steering him in the wrong direction.
A Scathing Exchange
Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., found himself in the crosshairs after Trump took to social media to label the North Carolina lawmaker a "RINO" and "weak and ineffective." Having previously announced he would not seek reelection this November, Tillis has become a recurring target of the president’s ire.
Trump characterized Tillis as a "nitpicker" who consistently works against the Republican Party and his own agenda. "He wasn't brave, he was just the opposite - HE WAS A QUITTER!" Trump stated, adding that the outgoing senator is now free to spend his remaining months "screwing the Republican Party" with his peers.
Tillis Pushes Back
Tillis wasted little time responding, arguing on Friday afternoon that the president is relying on ill-informed counsel. While the senator joked about enjoying his final seven months, he pivoted quickly to defend his record, noting that if his opposition to certain policies earns him the "RINO" label, he is happy to accept it.
The senator specifically criticized what he termed the $1.776 billion "anti-weaponization fund," the promotion of 50-year mortgages, and the administration’s handling of personnel and foreign policy, particularly regarding the war in Ukraine. "We need Republicans to do well in November," Tillis warned, "but the stupid stuff is killing our chances!"
A History of Friction
This latest conflict is not the first time the two have clashed. Back in January, after Trump publicly dubbed him a "loser," Tillis responded with a sarcastic quip to CNN regarding the administration's immigration policies under former DHS Secretary Kristi Noem and senior advisor Stephen Miller.
The North Carolina Republican noted at the time that such an insult apparently made him "qualified to be homeland security secretary and senior adviser to the president," according to reporting from 205focus.com.
