Washington: A fresh political storm erupted in the United States after President Donald Trump lashed out at members of his own party who called for the resignation of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem following the fatal shootings of two US citizens by federal immigration authorities.
As pressure mounted—even from within Republican ranks—Trump doubled down on his support for Noem and branded Republican Senators Thom Tillis of North Carolina and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska as “losers.” The remarks intensified divisions within the party and prompted a sharp, sarcastic response from Tillis.
In an interview with ABC news, Trump criticised the senators for demanding accountability after a Border Patrol agent shot and killed a man during an immigration enforcement operation. “These senators are awful,” Trump said. “One is gone, and the other should be gone.”
Tillis, known for occasionally breaking ranks with Trump, responded with open mockery. When asked about being called a “loser” by the president, the North Carolina senator quipped, “I am thrilled about that.”
“That qualifies me to serve as the president’s senior adviser and secretary of homeland security,” Tillis added sarcastically, turning Trump’s insult into a pointed rebuke of the administration’s immigration leadership.
A video clip of the exchange quickly circulated online, with reporters quoting Tillis as saying he was “very happy” to receive the label—an apparent jab at what he described as a culture of loyalty tests within the Trump-led Republican Party.
Trump later escalated his criticism, targeting Tillis both on social media and at public events. Without citing specific votes, the president accused the senator of betraying the “America First” agenda and losing touch with Republican grassroots voters. Trump also referenced Tillis’s past support for bipartisan legislation and immigration compromises, portraying them as evidence of disloyalty.
The president’s remarks appeared to also reflect Tillis’s long-running criticism of Stephen Miller, a key White House adviser and architect of Trump’s hardline immigration policies. Tillis has previously described Miller’s advice as “amateurish” and “stupid,” and has sharply criticised rhetoric suggesting a “military takeover” of Greenland, calling it “beyond stupid.”
Tillis has openly opposed Miller’s influence on immigration enforcement, tariff strategies, and discussions around the possible annexation of Greenland, putting him at odds with the administration’s most hawkish voices.
Clashes between Trump and Tillis are not new. The two have previously disagreed over efforts to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election and over broader immigration reforms. Senator Murkowski, meanwhile, has been a consistent critic of Trump, particularly on foreign policy and trade.
Most recently, Murkowski condemned tariff announcements linked to Trump’s proposed Greenland deal, calling them “unnecessary, punitive, and a profound mistake.”
“They will do nothing to advance US national security,” Murkowski said, “while pushing our core European allies further away.”
The political fallout follows two deadly incidents involving immigration authorities in Minneapolis. Last week, Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old US citizen and ICU nurse, was shot and killed by federal agents during a protest against Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations.
The incident came just weeks after another fatal shooting in the same city. On January 7, Renee Good, also 37 and a US citizen, was shot and killed by an ICE agent, raising serious concerns about the conduct and oversight of immigration enforcement agencies.
These deaths have triggered intense public backlash and renewed scrutiny of federal immigration policies. Critics argue that the Trump administration’s approach has become increasingly militarised, with enforcement tactics that blur the line between policing and combat operations.
As calls for accountability grow louder, Trump’s aggressive defence of his administration—and his attacks on dissenting Republicans—underscore the widening ideological rift within the party over immigration, executive power, and the limits of loyalty.
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