Now Tillis fears the mirror image of that is unfolding as Trump’s unpopular policies may tilt the state back toward Democrats. Tillis and Trump butted heads last year as Trump was whipping votes for his sweeping domestic policy package. White House officials had insisted on cuts to Medicaid that were poised to drain billions from North Carolina hospitals and drive up state costs. Tillis told Trump he couldn’t vote for the bill. Trump then put out a call for primary challengers against Tillis.
The Senator found himself boxed in. He knew running for reelection after voting against the GOP’s biggest win wouldn’t work. But, as Tillis sees it, now the party is in a pickle—trying to sell the tax cuts, while struggling to defend the Medicaid cuts they approved with them. Tillis gets most agitated when talking about Trump’s inner circle, who he blames for pivotal decisions that are tanking approval ratings for the President and his party. “These people are clueless,” Tillis says. He was particularly outraged at the Justice Department’s decision to investigate Powell over whether he lied to Congress about renovations at the Fed’s headquarters. The criminal probe came amid Trump’s aggressive effort to pressure Powell to resign as he defied Trump’s calls for the Fed to lower interest rates. Tillis says the DOJ’s efforts were “amateurish” and failed to think through the chain reaction it would set off. It not only spurred Tillis to hold up the nomination of Kevin Warsh, Trump’s pick to replace Powell, it also likely cost Trump a chance to fill another Fed seat. Powell, who had been planning to retire quietly when his term as chair ended in May, has now decided to stay on the Fed’s board after Warsh takes over as chair.