Washington-El Senator Thom Tillis, RN.C., criticized a conservative political consultant with close links with the orbit of President Donald Trump, who questioned if he could win the re-election next year.
Tillis was responding to the comments about X by Arthur Schwartz, who said the Republicans “will need a new Senate candidate in North Carolina” in 2026, pointing out a survey of the survey of the Democratic Firm of Public Policy that found Tillis the former Democratic governor Roy Cooper in a hypothetical confrontation of general elections.
“The president needs a majority to continue his agenda,” Tillis said in an interview on Thursday. “Behavior of people like this type, is what is the greatest threat to us to deliver most next year.”
Tillis said Schwartz “does not have the temperament of being anywhere around the political circles that guarantee that we return to most next year.”
“Arthur Schwartz is a political trick that should probably continue to be an intelligent and a billionaire, because he is a political consultant S —–,” he added.
Tillis won its two previous Senate races in Battleground Carolina del Norte for less than 2 percentage points. He formally launched his 2026 re -election campaign last year.
Schwartz responded to the publication of NBC News social networks about some of Tillis’ critical comments about him saying in X: “Every republican senator that I know wants Tillis to leave so that we can lead a serious candidate who will overcome missphits like Mark Robinson who will crush in a general. Maybe Thom should be planning his future of the Senate after reading his mentions about X “.
Robinson, candidate for governor of the republicans full of the scandal in North Carolina last year, lost to the Democrat Josh Stein for 15 points.
“I have nothing against Tillis; I barely know him, “Schwartz said in X.” He is a mediocre candidate without connection with the republican base in a critical swing state. If RS takes seriously the defense of our majority of the Senate, we must start looking for a replacement for Tillis, and we must start now. ”
Republicans have a majority of 53-47 in the Senate.
In particular, Schwartz helped the nomination of Pete Hegseth’s shepherd for the Secretary of Defense through the Senate, a process in which Tillis became the key vote to confirm it. Hegseth faced accusations of alcohol abuse, sexual assault and poor financial management of the organizations he directed, all of which he denied. Finally, three other Republican senators joined all Democrats to vote against their nomination, which requires Vice President JD Vance to break a 50-50 tie.
It is not clear to what Tillis refers to that Schwartz is a billionaire.
When asked on Thursday if he supported his vote to confirm Hegesh, Tillis replied: “100%.”
He said that Schwartz’s “behavior” towards him and other senators “is part of the reason I put in the balance the nomination of Pete Hegseth.”
“Let me make due diligence. Don’t tell me how to do my job, ”said Tillis. “And Arthur Schwartz should not even walk through the corridors of the White House, in my opinion, based on his behavior. … want to flex with me, so we are where we are. “
It is not clear what role, if anyone, Schwartz plays in the Trump administration. He did not respond to comments on his official role or Tillis’ criticisms of his behavior. The White House also did not respond to a request for comments.
In January, when NBC News reported a affidavit that contains accusations against Hegseth signed by his former sister -in -law, Danielle, Schwartz referred to himself as a Hegseth advisor and voluntary for the Trump administration.
Schwartz is a friend and consultant of Donald Trump Jr., the president’s son. It is facilitating the Senate’s confirmation process for the Bridge Colby, Trump’s nominee to be the Deputy Secretary of Defense of Hegseth’s policy.
Republican members in the Senate Armed Services Committee interrogated Colby this week about their positions in the allies of Taiwan, China, Iran and NATO. Vance appeared before the committee to support Colby, whom he called “a friend.”
Tillis said: “Anything that [Schwartz] It represents in Congress, it is better that you do not have its digital footprints, because I am a non -reflective for anything it represents. That’s how bad I think it’s for the president. “
Andrew Surabian, a Republican strategist affiliated with Vance, also responded to Tillis’s comments, publishing in X: “What kind of campaign s —- is @thomtillis who attacks someone who nobody in NC has heard of a tweet? While Arthur is not a billionaire, in fact he is an intelligent guy. We have worked together for years supervising all the political activities of Don Jr. is not intelligent! “
Senator Ted Budd, RN.C., supported Tillis during an interaction with journalists on Thursday at the Capitol.
“I backed Thom a long time ago. Look, I know him long before he was on this role and supported him. He is a great partner for the state, ”said Budd. “It’s hard, I’ll tell you.”
