Tillis blasts – Outgoing Sen. Thom Tillis sharply criticized Sen. Mike Lee’s push for a “talking filibuster” tied to President Donald Trump’s voter ID Save Act, arguing Lee’s social-media tactics are fueled by “naivety” or a desire for likes. The clash comes alongside Trump’s
Sen. Thom Tillis didn’t hold back on Tuesday when he took aim at a fellow Republican over the way the party is trying to force President Donald Trump’s voter ID bill through the Senate.
Tillis, the outgoing senator from North Carolina, went after Sen. Mike Lee of Utah over Lee’s ongoing push for a “talking filibuster” tied to getting Trump’s voter ID legislation—known as the Save Act—approved. In comments to reporters, Tillis said Lee’s behavior online is driving the public fight, not the work of governing.
“He’s either driven by naivety or a desire to get more likes on a social media post. maybe both. ” Tillis said. according to comments reported on by Semafor’s congressional bureau chief Burgess Everett. Tillis added that he doesn’t speak ill of members when they want to be professional and engage productively—but he argued that Lee’s social-media conduct is why the criticism is coming.
“[W]hen you do some of the bullshit he’s done on social media, that’s why he gets these comments out here,” Tillis said.
The target of the scolding is an account Lee has used for years to spark attention: “@BasedMikeLee,” where he has long grabbed headlines for outlandish and trollish social media behavior.
Tillis’s complaint lands inside a larger push from Trump himself. Trump has also promoted the idea of using a “talking filibuster” as a way to move forward with the Save Act. In March. Trump wrote on Truth Social that hard-working Scott Pressler [sic] should be credited for talking on Fox & Friends about using a “Talking Filibuster” to pass “THE SAVE AMERICA ACT. ” which Trump described as “an 88% issue with ALL VOTERS.”.
Trump then laid out a direct demand for timing and sequencing. “It must be done immediately. It supersedes everything else. MUST GO TO THE FRONT OF THE LINE. I. as President. will not sign other Bills until this is passed. AND NOT THE WATERED DOWN VERSION – GO FOR THE GOLD: MUST SHOW VOTER I.D. & PROOF OF CITIZENSHIP: NO MAIL-IN BALLOTS EXCEPT FOR MILITARY – ILLNESS, DISABILITY, TRAVEL,” Trump added.
But the talking filibuster strategy has also run into skepticism from within the GOP leadership. In response to Trump’s push, Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) delivered a lengthy explanation in March for why a “talking filibuster” would not work to pass the bill.
“Having studied it and researched it pretty thoroughly. you have to show me how. in the end. it prevails and succeeds. Because I think what has been promised out there is that it would actually. in the end. get an outcome. ” Thune said. He pointed to past instances when Democrats had considered the approach.
“And I find it very hard to see that based on actual past experience. There were a couple different occasions where the Democrats contemplated doing this. both under Majority Leader Harry Reid at the time and Majority Leader Schumer. and they opted against it because they examined it the same way that we’re examining it. ” Thune said.
Thune also emphasized that the Senate’s debate environment doesn’t stop with a filibuster speech—it can expand into a longer fight over changes to legislation. “It’s all unlimited debate, but it’s also unlimited amendments. So what I’ve said before is you have to have unified support. not only in support of the ultimate goal. which is the SAVE America Act. on the process to be able to defeat amendments that would undo the legislation the first place. And we can’t find a piece of legislation in history that’s been passed that way,” he added.
The dispute now brings together two different pressure points inside the same effort: Trump’s insistence on immediate action to push voter ID requirements forward. and Lee’s attempt to drive that effort through a talking filibuster strategy while leaning heavily on social media attention. Tillis’s frustration suggests that. in the Senate. the fight over the rules isn’t just about procedural mechanics—it’s also about who gets to set the tone for how the bill is pursued and how public pressure is applied.
Thom Tillis Mike Lee talking filibuster Save Act Trump voter ID bill Save America Act John Thune Truth Social Senate procedural fight