Senator Thom Tillis publishes profanity‑filled memoir and private texts show clash with Trump
Senator Thom Tillis released a 224‑page memoir on Tuesday through Broadside Books, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers. The book, titled “How to Lose Friends and Antagonize Presidents,” is described as profanity‑laden and includes Tillis’s criticism of figures such as Pete Hegseth, Stephen Miller, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Kristi Noem, as well as his discussion of a 2025 decision not to seek re‑election. Tillis also says he coined the term “MAGATS” for Trump‑aligned advisors.
A private text exchange from June 6 shows Tillis using profanity toward Donald Trump, stating he would quit and tell Trump to “f—— yourself” if ever threatened with a primary, and he says Trump never directly threatened him. The messages were disclosed as part of the memoir’s promotion.
How this was covered
- Right-leaning coverage is the most divided on this story
Why it matters
The memoir and texts provide a rare insider look at tensions and disagreements within the Republican Party.
How the sides frame it
HIGH AGREEMENTBoth camps report Tillis’s memoir and his profanity-filled clash with Trump, but left-leaning coverage frames him as a vocal critic resisting Trump’s pressure, while right-leaning coverage frames the book as an exposé of internal Republican infighting and Trump-aligned insiders.
LEFT
Frames Tillis as a outspoken opponent of Trump, highlighting his vulgar rebuke and refusal to back the AG nominee without condemning Jan. 6 rioters.
RIGHT
Frames the memoir as a revealing account of GOP infighting, emphasizing Tillis’s labeling of Trump allies as “MAGATS” and his policy-based reasons for leaving the Senate.
The left emphasises
- vulgar private text to Trump
- denies any primary threat
- hostile rapport with Trump
- refused to back AG nominee without condemning Jan. 6 rioters
The right emphasises
- profanity-laden memoir
- coined term “MAGATS” for Trump-aligned advisors
- internal Republican infighting
- policy disagreements and budget concerns
How this story developed
- Sep 22 Congress probes Jack Smith’s alleged seizure of lawmakers’ phone data amid Arctic Frost scandal
- Sep 29 The Senate Judiciary Committee held the hearing with Jack Smith.
- Sep 29 Sen. Eric Schmitt asked former special counsel Jack Smith about attending an Atlanta NBA game, but Smith said he was at a Maryland college basketball game, revealing a mix-up.
- Sep 30 A whistleblower disclosed that the Arctic Frost probe collected private messages from journalists at over a dozen news outlets.
- Oct 2 The hearing generated a meme‑worthy clip that spread online.
- Oct 2 Senator Thom Tillis sent a profane private message to Donald Trump, saying he would quit and tell Trump to “f—— yourself” if threatened with a primary.
- Oct 7 The memoir and the private texts were made public as part of the book’s promotion.
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