With a bold stand on Powell, Tillis shows his party a path forward | Opinion
Deputy Opinion Editor Paige Masten is covering the 2026 election for The Charlotte Observer and the Raleigh News & Observer.
Upon announcing last year that he would retire at the end of his term rather than seek reelection, U.S. Sen. Thom Tillis said he looked forward to “having the pure freedom to call the balls and strikes as I see fit.”
He has certainly done so, quickly becoming one of the more outspoken members of the Senate, particularly when it comes to disagreements with his own party and the Trump administration. But he took it to a new level Sunday following news that the Trump administration has launched a criminal investigation into Federal Reserve chairman Jerome Powell — the latest example of Trump prosecuting his political foes.
In a statement, Tillis slammed the move, saying it places “the independence and credibility of the Department of Justice … in question.” Tillis also threatened to derail the confirmation of any Federal Reserve nominees, including a successor to Powell, until the matter is resolved. Tillis is a member of the Senate Banking Committee, which oversees such nominations. Republicans have a majority on that committee by just one vote, so just a single GOP defection could result in gridlock.
While Tillis has been relatively tempered in his criticism of Trump himself, he’s made it clear on multiple occasions that he believes Trump’s advisers and others within the administration are damaging the presidency and the country. That happened again Sunday, with Tillis saying in his statement that the investigation into Powell eliminates any doubt that “advisers within the Trump Administration are actively pushing to end the independence of the Federal Reserve.” Make no mistake, though — Tillis knows it’s Trump who makes the calls.
It’s yet another example of Tillis trying to save the Republican Party from forces, including the president, that are more interested in grievance than governing. Tillis also delivered a scathing rebuke of White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller last week after Miller said the U.S. should take control of Greenland by military force. Tillis later told CNN’s Jake Tapper that “Miller needs to get into a lane where he knows what he’s talking about or get out of this job.” He’s warned colleagues about the potential electoral consequences of cutting Medicaid and allowing health care premiums to grow more expensive.
Contrary to what Trump and the MAGA base seem to believe, Thom Tillis is nowhere close to becoming a moderate. He’s still solidly conservative, and he has made it clear he still supports the Republican Party and believes in its future. Unlike some Trump defectors, he still believes his party is worth saving, and he seems to see it as his duty to try to pull Republicans back from the lines Trump keeps crossing.
Tillis has been hesitant to condemn Trump directly, but it may be for a good reason. Taking on Trump directly will only make the president dig in his heels. Choosing constructive, indirect criticism over outright condemnation may not be what progressives want, but it may also be the only path to getting Trump to change. It gives Trump, who doesn’t respond well to personal attacks, someone to blame besides himself.
At a time when most Republicans are happy to just cower to the administration completely, Tillis’ approach has been a welcome change. It’s the kind of strong, principled leadership North Carolina — and the country — needs. His boldness and public resistance is not only giving Trump an opportunity to change, it’s also showing his fellow Republicans a path forward. If Trump ever does change his mind, it will only be because more Republicans join Tillis in drawing a line at things that are both unpopular and wrong. No matter how much Tillis wants to save his party, he can’t do it on his own.
This story was originally published January 12, 2026 at 11:33 AM with the headline "With a bold stand on Powell, Tillis shows his party a path forward | Opinion."
