Retiring North Carolina Sen. Thom Tillis unleashed a torrent of profanity at President Trump in private text messages that are now being aired ahead of the release of his forthcoming memoir.

The Republican senator recounts his clashes with Trump in How to Lose Friends and Antagonize Presidents, which is scheduled to be released next week. Politico’s Playbook shared details from the book, including messages Tillis sent to the president.

In one text sent in late May, Tillis said he still wanted to help Trump but would not tolerate what he called mistreatment from anyone, including the president.

“I still want to help but I don’t take this bulls–t from anyone, including you Mr. President. Save that s–t for the cowards who don’t care if you fail. I care if you fail and right now we are failing,” the 66 year old said.

Tillis was even more furious in a June 6 message addressing whether Trump had threatened him with a primary challenge. The senator insisted that Trump had never directly made such a threat against him.

“As I have said before, you NEVER threatened me with a primary challenge. I get that you may have me confused with so many Republicans that you have threatened in the past, but NEVER me,” Tillis wrote.

“If you had ever threatened me directly with a primary, I would have immediately told you to f–k yourself, and I would have announced my retirement immediately. Save those threats and head games for cowards and fools,” he continued.

Playbook did not publish Trump’s replies or the messages that prompted Tillis’ responses. That leaves the public with the senator’s blistering side of the exchange, but not the president’s private words.

Tillis was among the most prominent Republicans who said they could not support Trump’s “Big Beautiful Bill.” He announced in June 2025 that he would not seek re election in this year’s midterm elections.

Trump later attacked Tillis on Truth Social, labeling him “a talker and complainer, NOT A DOER!” The president also threatened to support primary challengers against him during the midterms.

Tillis became more publicly critical of Trump after announcing his retirement. In his statement, he complained about the disappearance of bipartisanship in American politics and criticized leaders who, in his view, failed to consider how the bill would affect regular Americans.

“In Washington over the last few years, it’s become increasingly evident that leaders who are willing to embrace bipartisanship, compromise, and demonstrate independent thinking are becoming an endangered species,” Tillis wrote.

He also accused Republicans of prioritizing political advantage over the effects of the policies they support. “Too many elected officials are motivated by pure raw politics who really don’t give a damn about the people they promised to represent on the campaign trail,” he said.

Tillis also joined Texas Senator John Cornyn in refusing to support acting Attorney General Todd Blanche’s nomination to take the position permanently. Tillis urged Blanche to meet with victims of Jeffrey Epstein.

The North Carolina senator also pressed the government to eliminate the controversial “anti-weaponization” fund. The program was designed to compensate people who believed they had been unfairly targeted by the government.

Trump responded on August 1 by attacking both senators and saying he would keep Blanche as acting attorney general if they refused to approve him. Trump also said he would push for passage of the Anti Weaponization Bill.

The following day, an order rescinded the fund, and Tillis and Cornyn backed Blanche. The reversal marked another public confrontation between Trump and Republican senators willing to resist his demands.

Tillis’ memoir signals that more Republican infighting is coming. Its cover prominently features White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller, War Secretary Pete Hegseth, Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., and former DHS Secretary Kristi “ICE Barbie” Noem.

A summary from HarperCollins says the book will address “how the sycophants surrounding President Trump, spineless Republican yes-men (and -women), and the weirdos of the MAGA world can’t get out of their own way.”