Senator Thom Tillis from North Carolina has never hesitated to express his opinions, and recent events have given him ample opportunity to do so.

In recent weeks, Tillis has openly criticized President Trump’s stance on Greenland, raised concerns about the investigation into Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell, and voiced his disapproval of how White House advisers are influencing the President’s decisions, which he believes are misguided.

As a result, Tillis has emerged as a prominent Republican voice challenging the president’s actions as Trump enters the final year of his term.

In July, Tillis announced his decision to retire at the end of his term, following the contentious debate over a significant legislative bill. This decision has granted him a rare level of independence in Congress, a liberty he is increasingly exercising and which his colleagues are noting.

“He’s untethered,” remarked Senator John Cornyn of Texas with a chuckle.

Tillis announced in July, amid the fight over the “big, beautiful bill,” that he would retire at the end of his term, giving him a freedom afforded to few lawmakers — one that he is increasingly taking advantage of and that members are noticing.

“He’s untethered,” Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) said with a laugh.

Tillis insists his recent outspokenness is not a conscious decision, but the consequence of actions by the administration he feels deserve to be rebuked. In his mind, there are plenty.

“The sheer volume of things that are on the threat matrix,” Tillis said in an interview. “It sort of ramped up, but you’ve got to respond when the opportunities come up.”

Tillis made waves last week when he announced that he would block any future nominees to the Federal Reserve after the U.S. attorney’s office in Washington opened a criminal investigation into Powell. His statement came less than 20 minutes after the Fed released an extraordinarily rare video statement from the chairman. 

Tillis sits on the powerful Senate Banking Committee, which has a 12-10 party split, meaning his opposition can doom administration nominees, including a potential replacement for Powell once his term is up in May. 

That move earned him a mild public rebuke from Trump, who told reporters during a stop in Detroit that while he likes Tillis, there’s a reason the North Carolina Republican is not seeking a third term. 

“That’s why he’s not going to be a senator any longer,” Trump said. “He’s not going to be a senator any longer because of views like that.” 

But Tillis notably hasn’t received an angry phone call from the president — who has been the source of a steady stream of those to lawmakers. The two have texted in recent weeks, but have not spoken directly since late December. 

While Tillis has taken aim at the administration, he hasn’t trained is fire at the president specifically. Instead, much of his criticism has been directed at what has become his No. 1 target: Trump’s top advisers.

“I firmly believe that many of the times we’re seeing things that are not very well executed is not because of the ‘what’ was a bad idea, but the ‘how’ was awful,” Tillis said. “People are not looking around corners,” arguing that the Greenland situation is a “classic example.”

Earlier this month, Tillis caught the attention of Washington when he singled out Stephen Miller, one of Trump’s top White House advisers, in a floor speech. Miller had gone on CNN days earlier and said that “nobody’s going to fight the United States militarily” for Greenland and that it “obviously” should be part of the U.S. 

“I’m sick of stupid,” the North Carolina Republican declared. 

Tillis on Thursday traveled to Denmark along with five other lawmakers as part of a “reassurance” mission about Greenland.

GOP lawmakers have come to expect that level of outspokenness from the outgoing senator, who made waves last summer for openly criticizing and ultimately voting against the “big, beautiful bill.”

“When you announce you’re not running for reelection, you have probably more latitude. Thom … has always been very plain-spoken and willing to take on the big issues,” Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) said. “That hasn’t changed.”

“I think now [he] views his role as … a chance to be very transparent about what he thinks and to have an impact in his last year here,” Thune continued, adding that Tillis has “always been [an] independent thinker.” 

Nevertheless, certain recent moves have caught the attention of members and aides.

One senior GOP aide noted that Tillis has on multiple occasions since the start of the year taken to the floor to deliver speeches that are largely “unscripted and motivated by emotion.” 

Headlining those was one about the administration’s actions toward Greenland — a different speech than the one in which he chastised Miller — and one in support of a Democratic push to put up a plaque honoring police officers who protected the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. 

Notably, neither set of remarks featured a speaking podium or visible prepared remarks. 

Some on Capitol Hill believe some of his actions have been detrimental to the Senate GOP, and that he’s doing no favors for scores of his colleagues with his outspoken ways.

“He’s burning a lot of bridges amongst his colleagues and the party writ large. Just being negative on all the things we want to do,” a second senior Republican aide said, pointing to his torpedoing of the latest crypto market structure bill. “He’s stepping on the message, but he’s also stepping on the policy. He’s not being helpful.” 

Others dispute that, saying they don’t think his recent maneuvers have reached a level of concern. 

“He might be reacting quicker and sharper,” a Senate Republican conceded. “I don’t see any blinking lights.”

Lawmakers also are quick to note that Tillis appears much freer without the weight of reelection on his shoulders— something Tillis readily admits. 

When asked if he has any regrets or second thoughts about turning down a bid for a third term, he didn’t ponder the question. 

“Oh, no. None,” Tillis says with a belly laugh, adding that Rep. Ralph Norman (R-S.C.) told him he looked like a new person while the two were traveling back to Washington recently. 

“He said, “You look so – refreshed,” Tillis said.

Sen. James Lankford (R-Okla.), a member of GOP leadership, told The Hill that Tillis has talked openly about how he, and his wife, is very much looking forward to having “control of my clock.”

“He talks a lot about being home,” Lankford said. 

Nevertheless, Tillis also said he does not believe he is speaking for himself alone when he goes public with his airing of grievances. 

“I’ll leave it to the other members, but I believe … I think that there are a significant number of people that believe it’s probably helpful for me to say what I’m saying,” he said. “I haven’t seen many stand up and criticize me.”

“I feel like I’m in a position to where I can take a step further than I would recommend other people to take, to give them some room to think about how they can dip a toe in the water of helping this president,” Tillis said. “By being honest and speaking truth to power, and calling out people who are giving bad advice.”

Whether that creates headaches for leadership remains to be seen. As Thune notes, there’s still sand in the hour-glass. 

“I’ve not seen that,” he said when asked if he’s worried about Tillis becoming a hindrance to the conference. “But we’ve got a year to go.”