North Carolina Senator Thom Tillis, a longtime ally of President Trump, unveiled his memoir How to Lose Friends and Antagonize Presidents: The Trouble with Sycophants, Courage Outsourcing, and Partisan Group Think on Tuesday. The 224‑page volume, published by Broadside Books, an imprint of HarperCollins, contains a series of text messages, internal memos and personal reflections that illustrate the challenges of serving in a highly polarized Congress.
Inside the book
The memoir is peppered with profanity and blunt language, reflecting Tillis’s frustration during key moments of his twelve‑year Senate career. One excerpt shows Tillis writing to President Trump, “I still want to help but I don’t take this b——- from anyone, including you Mr. President. Save that s— for the cowards who don’t care if you fail. I care if you fail and right now we are failing.”
Another passage details Tillis’s opposition to the so‑called One Big Beautiful Bill Act, a proposal that would have shifted $32 billion in Medicaid costs to state budgets, potentially harming rural hospitals. Tillis was one of two Republicans to vote against the measure, arguing it would place an undue burden on local communities.
Critique of party insiders
Tillis coins the term “MAGATS” – a play on the President’s “Make America Great Again” slogan – to describe party members he believes have failed to give honest advice to the President. He writes, “I’m talking about people who have never worked a day in business, who now have business strategy, decision‑making roles, and they’re simply not looking around corners and taking care of this President.”
The book also names several senior officials, including White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller, Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., former Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, and former Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, whom Tillis says he once considered confirming but later urged the President to dismiss.
Political context
While the memoir paints a picture of internal discord, it also underscores Tillis’s commitment to conservative principles and his belief that strong, principled leadership is essential for the nation’s future. The release comes just weeks before the 2026 midterm elections, a period when both the Trump administration and Republican lawmakers are emphasizing election integrity and fiscal responsibility.
In North Carolina, the book’s launch coincides with the state’s early‑voting window, which began on September 4 and runs through early November. Voters can still request absentee ballots, and in‑person early voting is scheduled for October 15‑31.
Background on Tillis
Thom Tillis began his public service on the Cornelius town park board in 2002, later serving on the town commission before winning a seat in the North Carolina House of Representatives in 2006. He rose to Speaker of the House in 2010, a year when Republicans reclaimed both chambers of the General Assembly for the first time in 140 years. Tillis was elected to the U.S. Senate in 2014 after defeating Democratic incumbent Kay Hagan.
During his tenure, Tillis has advocated for reduced federal spending, stronger border security, and policies that support traditional families and faith‑based communities. His memoir offers a personal perspective on how those policy goals have been pursued amid the pressures of Washington politics.
Availability
The book is available for preorder at major retailers including Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Books‑A‑Million, Target and Walmart. The publisher describes it as a “bare‑knuckled, darkly funny wake‑up call” from a conservative who is unafraid to call out what he sees as “spineless Republican yes‑men” and “useful idiots” within the Trump movement.
Original reporting: KTBS 3 (Shreveport) — read the source article.
