By WASHINGTON — Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., blasted a conservative political consultant with close ties to President Donald Trump’s orbit who questioned whether he could win re-election next year.
Tillis was responding to comments on X by Arthur Schwartz, who said Republicans will “need a new senate candidate in NC” in 2026, pointing to a poll from the Democratic firm Public Policy Polling that found Tillis trailing Democratic former Gov. Roy Cooper in a hypothetical general election matchup.
“The president needs a majority to continue his agenda,” Tillis said in an interview Thursday. “Behavior by people like this guy, it’s the thing that’s the single greatest threat to us to deliver the majority next year.”
Tillis said Schwartz “doesn’t have the temperament to be anywhere around the political circles that guarantee that we come back into a majority next year.”
“Arthur Schwartz is a political hack that should probably just keep on being a smart guy and a billionaire, because he’s a s—– political consultant,” he added.
Tillis won his previous two Senate races in battleground North Carolina by less than 2 percentage points. He formally launched his 2026 re-election campaign last year.
Schwartz responded to NBC News’ social media post about some of Tillis’ critical comments of him by saying on X: “Every Republican senator I know wants Tillis to drop out so we can run a serious candidate who will beat away misfits like Mark Robinson that will get crushed in a general. Maybe Thom should be planning his post senate future instead of reading his mentions on X.”
Robinson, Republicans’ scandal-plagued candidate for governor in North Carolina last year, lost to Democrat Josh Stein by 15 points.
“I have nothing against Tillis; I barely know him,” Schwartz also said on X. “He’s a mediocre candidate with no connection to the Republican base in a critical swing state. If Rs are serious about defending our senate majority we need to start looking for a replacement for Tillis — and we need to start NOW.”
Republicans have a 53-47 majority in the Senate.
Notably, Schwartz helped shepherd Pete Hegseth’s nomination for defense secretary through the Senate, a process in which Tillis became the key vote to confirm him. Hegseth faced allegations of alcohol abuse, a sexual assault and the financial mismanagement of organizations that he led, all of which he denied. Ultimately, three other Republican senators joined all Democrats in voting against his nomination, requiring Vice President JD Vance to break a 50-50 tie.
It’s not clear what Tillis is referring to regarding Schwartz’s being a billionaire.
Asked Thursday whether he stands by his vote to confirm Hegseth, Tillis responded, “100%.”
He said Schwartz’s “behind-the-scenes behavior” toward him and other senators “is part of the reason why I put Pete Hegseth’s nomination in the balance.”
“Let me do due diligence. Don’t tell me how to do my job,” Tillis said. “And Arthur Schwartz should not even be walking the halls of the White House, in my opinion, based on his behavior. … He wants to flex with me, then we are where we are.”
It is not clear what role, if any, Schwartz plays in the Trump administration. He did not respond to requests for comment about his official role or Tillis’ criticisms of his behavior. The White House also did not respond to a request for comment.
In January, when NBC News reported on an affidavit containing allegations against Hegseth signed by his former sister-in-law, Danielle, Schwartz referred to himself as an adviser to Hegseth and a volunteer for the Trump administration.
Schwartz is a friend of and consultant to Donald Trump Jr., the president’s son. He is facilitating the Senate confirmation process for Elbridge Colby, Trump’s nominee to be Hegseth’s undersecretary of defense for policy.
Republican members on the Senate Armed Services Committee grilled Colby this week over his stances on Taiwan, China, Iran and NATO allies. Vance appeared before the committee to endorse Colby, whom he called “a friend.”
Tillis said: “Anything that [Schwartz] represents in Congress, he better not have his fingerprints on it, because I’m a reflexive no to anything he represents. That’s how bad I think he is for the president.”
Andrew Surabian, a Republican strategist affiliated with Vance, also responded to Tillis’ comments, posting on X: “What kind of s—– campaign is @ThomTillis running that he attacks someone who no one in NC has ever heard of over a tweet? While Arthur isn’t a billionaire, he is indeed a smart guy. We have worked together for years overseeing all of Don Jr.’s political activities. Not smart!”
Sen. Ted Budd, R-N.C., backed Tillis during an interaction with reporters Thursday in the Capitol.
“I endorsed Thom a long time ago. Look, I’ve known him long before he was ever in this role and supported him. He’s a great partner for the state,” Budd said. “He’s tough, I’ll tell you.”
