Claim via Social Media
In June 2025, viral posts claimed that Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC) received $750,000 from the Democratic Party in exchange for voting against President Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill” budget proposal.
Explanation
While Sen. Tillis did announce on June 28, 2025 that he would oppose the bill, citing Medicaid concerns, there is no evidence he accepted any money from Democrats.
The rumor appears to have originated on a Facebook page called The Patriot Meme Bank and was amplified by a self-described satirical comedian, Jonathan Gregory, also known as “The Creepy Comic.” A side-by-side image falsely attributing the story to Newsmax also circulated, but no such article exists on the site.
Tillis’ office confirmed in an email that the claim is “not remotely true,” and Snopes found no supporting evidence in any credible news source or government disclosure.
On June 29, Tillis announced he would not seek reelection in 2026, insulating himself from potential backlash. President Trump responded to his defection on Truth Social, first threatening a primary challenge, then applauding his retirement.
Conclusion
Fact or Fiction? Fiction. No evidence supports the claim that Thom Tillis accepted $750,000 from Democrats. The rumor originated from a satirical social media post and was falsely attributed to Newsmax.
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