Trump calls Tillis' opposition to Washington's top prosecutor 'disappointing'

Danielle Battaglia, McClatchy Washington Bureau on May 7, 2025

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WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump said that Sen. Thom Tillis’ decision not to support Trump’s nomination of Ed Martin as Washington’s top prosecutor is “disappointing.”

“It’s disappointing, because I know Ed,” Trump said. “He’s very talented. Crime is down in Washington, D.C.”

Trump was asked about Tillis’ stance while talking with reporters Wednesday afternoon in the Oval Office.

“I didn’t know that,” Trump said.

Tillis had told reporters about his decision on Martin a day earlier after being stopped coming out of a committee hearing in the Dirksen office building on the Capitol campus. He said then that he had already called the White House and informed staff that he would be opposing Martin’s nomination.

It was the first time during Trump’s second term that Tillis publicly split from Trump on a nomination.

His decision instantly made headlines, because it essentially ended Martin’s ability to move forward in the Senate confirmation process. Martin could not afford to lose a single Republican vote on the Senate Committee on the Judiciary, on which Tillis serves. Without Tillis, his nomination won’t move forward to a full Senate vote in the chamber.

Tillis’ opposition to Martin stems from Martin’s support of Jan. 6 defendants who stormed the U.S. Capitol in 2021 to stop the certification of President Joe Biden’s election.

“They made a stupid decision that day and they disgraced the United States by absolutely destroying the Capitol, and I can’t have any patience for that,” Tillis told reporters Tuesday.

Martin also served as an organizer of the Stop the Steal movement that helped lead people into the false belief that Trump won the 2020 election, and eventually to the storming of the Capitol.

Trump appointed Martin to serve as interim U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia after being sworn in to a second term in January.

Upon taking office, Martin dismissed pending Jan. 6 cases and fired prosecutors who worked on the cases.

Martin can only serve as interim U.S. attorney for 120 days. That expires on May 20.

Tillis’ 2026 primary opponent, Andy Nillson, seized on the opportunity to criticize Tillis for not being supportive of Trump.

“Senator Tillis was elected by North Carolina voters to represent the will of the people,” Nilsson said. “Once elected he’s been anything but. His consistent tangles with President Trump and other Republicans has left voters wondering which side of the aisle does he support?”

Trump’s rebuke of Tillis wasn’t as full-throated, and he redirected attention to all senators.

“They have to vote the way they vote,” Trump said. “They have to follow their heart. And they have to follow their mind.”

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