Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC) delivered a blunt assessment of Congress’s gridlock and the war with Iran on Thursday, criticizing leaders in both parties while calling for a clearer strategy from the White House.
Speaking at a luncheon hosted by the Ripon Society, Tillis said lawmakers remain at an impasse over funding the Department of Homeland Security, with no clear resolution in sight.
“If you’re wondering what’s going to happen, nobody knows — including the majority leader,” Tillis said, adding that senators should be prepared to cancel recess until a deal is reached.
He dismissed partisan finger-pointing around the shutdown, arguing Republicans are not winning the political battle even as they hold power.
“If any of you believe Republicans are winning the shutdown argument … it’s not real,” he said. He added that governing majorities have a responsibility to deliver results. “When you’re the boss, figure out how to get it done,” he said.
Tillis also took aim at Democrats, suggesting they would avoid blame regardless of the outcome, including Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY).
“If Chuck Schumer walked down to the well of the Senate and said, ‘I am responsible for this shutdown’ … Republicans would still get blamed for it,” he said.
Turning to foreign policy, Tillis warned that the administration must soon clarify its objectives in Iran as U.S. troop deployments increase. He pointed to the limits of the War Powers Resolution, which allows the president to conduct military operations for a limited period without congressional approval.
“As you get closer to that 60-day mark … you better start being very clear on what your strategic and tactical objectives are,” he said, noting the deployment of thousands of U.S. troops, including forces tied to North Carolina.
“For me, it’s personal because we have a thousand soldiers from the 82nd Airborne headed that way, and we have some 8,000 Marines headed that way,” he said.
The North Carolina Republican emphasized that any sustained conflict would require strong coordination with allies.
“It’s time to start being respectful to our allies,” Tillis said. “If you intend to have a sustained engagement in Iran, it’s not going to go well if you try and go it alone.”
Drawing on his role with the Senate’s NATO observer group, Tillis pushed back on recent rhetoric toward allied nations, explicitly calling out President Donald Trump.
“There’s a certain amount of latitude that the president’s getting in terms of his rhetoric,” the senator said. “Vast majorities of the House and Senate do not agree with the rhetoric with respect to our partners and allies,” Tillis said, adding that long-term relationships remain intact despite political tensions.
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Last year, Tillis received sharp backlash from the president after voting against advancing Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act. In retaliation, Trump threatened to back a primary challenge to Tillis in the 2026 midterm election.
Tillis announced he would retire from the Senate at the end of this year, shortly after the president’s statement.