He whom Tillis dares not name, Brunswick Beacon

Brunswick Beacon, 04.24.25

When Donald Trump declared a trade “war with the world” (except for Putin’s Russia), he proclaimed it “Liberation Day.” What he liberated was Americans from their wealth. Stock markets suffered their worst two-day loss in history. Trump has single-handedly erased $11.1 trillion in market value since taking office. 

Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC) is one of seven Republican senators who cosponsored legislation introduced by Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) to revoke Trump’s authority to impose tariffs. “I’m a free and fair trader,” Grassley explained, “The Constitution gives Congress the authority to regulate interstate and foreign commerce. I believe Congress delegated too much authority to the president.”

Tillis worries because Trump “decided to begin a trade war on all fronts.” He is especially upset that Trump’s tariffs against “partners that we have a very long storied relationship with” are turning allies into adversaries. Tillis’ frustration with Trump’s disastrous trade war boiled over at an April 8 hearing when he blurted out, “Whose throat do I get to choke if this proves to be wrong?” 

Tillis, who is running for reelection, immediately tried to stuff those words back in his mouth. “Someone has to own it,” he quickly added, “and you can't say that it's the president or the vice president." 

Tillis certainly can’t, because Trump already threatened to endorse another Republican against Tillis in next year’s primary unless Tillis cast the deciding vote to confirm Pete Hegseth, Trump’s nominee for secretary of defense. Tillis caved then and voted to confirm. He caved again when he excused Trump for tanking the economy.

Tillis knows, as everyone does, that Trump’s is the metaphorical throat in question. When Trump said tariffs will cause Americans “some pain,” Tillis replied, “Anyone who says there may be a little pain before we get things right needs to talk to my farmers who are one crop away from bankruptcy.” 

Tillis knows that Trump is to blame. He’s just afraid to say it.

Arthur Hill

Southport