We have documented statements by Thom Tillis on 2026 Midterm Elections, Abortion, and Artificial Intelligence, among other topics. Read the quotations, original sources and related cases below.
Role at the time: U.S. senator for North Carolina, interviewed on CBS's Face the Nation
Mixed or conditional
Statement summary
Tillis says he does not mind scrutiny of the Alaska race but objects to the appearance of filing a lawsuit before the facts that would support one have occurred.
“So, I don't mind looking at it, but I do mind the appearance of filing a lawsuit before we know if the facts that would substantiate a lawsuit actually occur.”
The case concerns DOJ's requested conditional intervention in certification of Alaska's Senate election. Tillis supports watching the Alaska result for voter confusion but questions filing a lawsuit before facts support one.
Role at the time: Republican U.S. senator from North Carolina
Condemned
Statement summary
Tillis tells Witkoff to look up the definition of humanitarian, calls the remark embarrassing and outrageous, and says Witkoff should ask Ukrainian families whose children Putin has kidnapped and murdered whether they agree.
“Look up the definition of "humanitarian." What an embarrassing and outrageous thing to say.”
Read the original post (opens in a new tab)Thom Tillis replies to Witkoff's "humanitarian" remarkText of post 2112890374163235086, quoting a clip of Witkoff posted by @Gerashchenko_en
Why we used this label
The case looks at Witkoff calling Putin a humanitarian. Tillis calls the remark embarrassing and outrageous, so we labeled it a condemnation.
Role at the time: U.S. senator from North Carolina
Condemned
Statement summary
Tillis says the administration should enforce a law the Senate passed 86-11 and calls the waiver a capitulation to a Russian dictator.
“Beyond irresponsible”
Open source (opens in a new tab)Trump waives Graham Act sanctions; lawmakers respondWhite House statement and congressional-reaction paragraphs
Why we used this label
The reference point is Trump's waiver of the Graham Act's Russia sanctions. Tillis calls the waiver beyond irresponsible and a capitulation to a Russian dictator.
Role at the time: U.S. senator from North Carolina; signatory to the joint October 15 letter
Condemned
Statement summary
Thom Tillis signed a joint letter with eight other senators requesting an inspector-general investigation into reported Starshield restrictions and intelligence-warning disruptions in Ukraine. The letter questions Defense Department oversight and asks whether government or contractor decisions contributed.
“Any restrictions on these capabilities, particularly without advance notification, raise serious questions about the Department of Defense’s contractual oversight and its responsibility to ensure continuity of essential services.”
Read the official statement (opens in a new tab)Nine senators request an investigation of Ukraine communications disruptionsPages 1-2: concerns and investigation requests; page 3: nine signatures
Why we used this label
The reference point is the restriction and its oversight. The signers criticize the lack of notice and question the Department of Defense response. Their investigation request leaves the cause and responsible officials unresolved.
Role at the time: U.S. senator from North Carolina
Condemned
Statement summary
Tillis says newer reporting suggests the problem occurred within Department of Defense Starshield systems. He criticizes the risks to civilians and U.S. personnel and says he will request an inspector-general investigation.
“Meanwhile, both Ukrainian civilians and U.S. diplomatic and security personnel were placed at unnecessary risk and without warning.”
The reference point is the October restriction and its consequences. Tillis explicitly criticizes the harm while leaving responsibility and intent unresolved.
Role at the time: U.S. senator for North Carolina, interviewed on NBC's Meet the Press
Mixed or conditional
Statement summary
On Meet the Press, Tillis called Hegseth a failed leader who needs to leave the Department of Defense, citing the plan to livestream an execution and Hegseth's handling of the Iran conflict.
“This is not who we are, and it’s another example of why Pete Hegseth and all of his bravado needs to get the hell out of the Department of Defense because he is a failed leader and we need strong leadership supporting President Trump right now.”
Open the original interview (opens in a new tab)Meet the Press - October 11, 2026 · NBC NewsKristen Welker's interview with Sen. Thom Tillis, questions on the Hasan execution and the Hegseth vote
Why we used this label
On whether the House should impeach Hegseth, Tillis says Hegseth is a failed leader who must leave the Department of Defense, which matches the objective of the impeachment proposals. He frames the remedy as putting someone else in place to help the president and does not address the House resolutions. That matches his September 17 statement in this case, where he named impeachment as one of two routes and preferred a presidential replacement. A condemning label would treat his call for Hegseth to leave as support for impeaching him.
Role at the time: U.S. senator for North Carolina, interviewed on NBC's Meet the Press
Condemned
Statement summary
Asked on Meet the Press, "Do you regret that vote?", Tillis said he dedicates a whole chapter of his book to his biggest regret and that "I regret that decision." He said he made a mistake, comparing Hegseth to someone who was hired and later has to be fired.
“I made a mistake. I’ve admitted that I made a mistake.”
Open the original interview (opens in a new tab)Meet the Press - October 11, 2026 · NBC NewsKristen Welker's interview with Sen. Thom Tillis, questions on the Hasan execution and the Hegseth vote
Why we used this label
Relative to his January 2025 vote, Tillis calls it a mistake and his biggest regret. That rejects the vote, so the label is condemns even though he is the senator who cast it. He grounds the judgment in Hegseth's later job performance and repeats that presidents deserve their picks; that explains his reasoning without qualifying the conclusion, so a mixed or conditional label does not fit.
Role at the time: U.S. senator from North Carolina, interviewed on Meet the Press
Condemned
Statement summary
Asked whether the president is breaking the law with the deal with Russia, Tillis says he may be and that there is a legitimate case he is not following the law.
“And I do believe there’s a legitimate case for saying the president’s not following the law.”
Open the original interview (opens in a new tab)Meet the Press - October 11, 2026 · NBC NewsKristen Welker's interview with Sen. Thom Tillis, questions on the Hasan execution and the Hegseth vote
Why we used this label
The matter under scrutiny is easing sanctions to allow Russian diesel imports. The speaker criticizes or seeks reversal of that decision.
DOJ seeks conditional restraint on Alaska Senate certification because two candidates share a name. Murkowski and Peltola criticize the intervention; the department argues that alleged voter confusion warrants relief.
Envoy Steve Witkoff called Vladimir Putin a humanitarian after Russia freed American Stephen Hubbard. Senators from both parties rejected the label, calling Putin a killer and a war criminal; President Trump said it could be used for the purpose of freeing Hubbard.
The White House says waiving the Graham Act's Russia measures preserves room for peace negotiations. Lawmakers from both parties and Volodymyr Zelenskyy say relief weakens pressure on Russia. Thomas Massie welcomes Trump's use of the authority Congress granted.
Musk says Washington controls Starshield limits. Dixon argues SpaceX still bears responsibility. Ukrainian officials and U.S. lawmakers criticize the October restrictions and seek answers about who authorized them.
Trump said Russia would supply millions of tons of diesel after a call with Putin, and Treasury authorized Russian diesel imports until April 2027. Zelenskyy and lawmakers in both parties objected.
Pete Hegseth confirms plans to livestream Nidal Hasan's execution. Betty McCollum calls for stopping the public spectacle, while Alyssa Farah Griffin opposes the broadcast despite supporting capital punishment.
Hegseth confirmed a 20% reduction in general and admiral positions, with a January 1, 2027 deadline. He defended the changes as accountability; senators questioned their military justification and scope.
The White House calls its Trump-featuring television spots public service announcements and paid for them with taxpayer money. Critics in both parties object, and on October 5 Trump said he would pay with his own and MAGA Inc. money.
After a judge barred two recognitions of Trump, he tied Kennedy Center renovation to recognition. Compare his remarks, the ruling and the White House's response.
Umar Kremlev, a Putin-linked Russian businessman, helped fund Trump Jr.'s wedding celebration. Trump first denied knowing Kremlev, then called it "totally allowed" and said he was repaid. Sen. John Curtis now wants Trump Jr. and Hunter Biden subpoenaed over family financial benefit.
Trump backs company controls and outside audits for frontier AI. Critics want enforceable federal safeguards, and the White House now calls incident reporting mandatory without identifying enforcement mechanisms or penalties.
Senator Josh Hawley wants Congress to revoke the FDA's approval of mifepristone and ban the abortion pill nationally. His bill has stalled in committee, and in September he began pressing Republicans to sign a pledge backing it.
