'Joke of a senator': Republican mocked for criticizing bill he intends to vote for

Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) took aim at the rescissions bill he plans to support on the Senate floor, warning of unintended consequences during a speech Wednesday — despite pledging a “yes” vote.

Speaking on the Senate floor, he cautioned, “I suspect we’re going to find out there are some things that we’re going to regret. Some second and third order effects. And I suspect that when we do we’ll have to come back and fix it.”

On Tuesday, the Senate narrowly cleared key procedural hurdles to begin debate on a rescissions package aimed at clawing back funds previously appropriated by Congress. The Trump-backed proposal seeks to recoup roughly $1.1 billion from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (which provides funding for NPR and PBS) and about $7.9 billion previously designated for famine and disease relief overseas.

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The North Carolina Republican's Wednesday statement was sharply criticized on social media.

Bobby Kogan, senior director of Federal Budget Policy at American Progress, reacted to Tillis' remarks and wrote on the social platform X: "Beyond parody. Maybe he can propose a bill to undo some of the cuts shortly after voting yes."

Political commentator Sam Stein wrote: "Republican lawmakers keep voting for things they are openly saying they don't like and will subsequently move to fix."

Former Democratic strategist Jeb Fain said: "Haha, dude is a joke of a senator. His opposition to Trump is reliably performative every single time."

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Last month, Tillis — a two-term Republican — announced he will not seek reelection in 2026, citing increasing partisan gridlock in Washington, Trump’s pressure on Republicans and his own opposition to Trump’s sweeping budget-reconciliation package, the so-called “One Big Beautiful Bill."

Watch the clip of Tillis' speech below, or by clicking this link.