Sen. Tillis worries about the "outsized influence" of the executive branch

North Carolina Senator Thom Tillis is expressing concern over the increasing influence of the executive branch under the Trump administration, describing it as a "dictator king." In his new book, "How to Lose Friends and Antagonize Presidents," Tillis criticizes various Trump administration advisers as sycophants and urges his Senate colleagues to uphold their co-equal role as a check on executive power.

He warns of the dangers of authoritarianism and the potential loss of democratic checks and balances if the trend continues.

Tillis was initially elected to the Senate in 2014, before Trump's populist movement took over the Republican Party. Despite his conservative values, Tillis remains critical of many of Trump's actions and advisers. He voted to confirm Trump's Cabinet nominees, including Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who he now regrets supporting.

Tillis has also publicly criticized other administration officials, such as Homeland Security Advisor Kristi Noem and White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller, for failing to anticipate and mitigate the fallout from Trump's actions.

Tillis was not present for Trump's second impeachment trial, arguing that the process was rushed and politically motivated. He predicts a significant loss for Republicans in the upcoming midterm elections due to economic concerns, but acknowledges that many of his colleagues are hesitant to challenge the White House. Tillis calls the potential fallout from Trump's supporters losing their elections in the midterms a "risk" and warns that it would be another "unforced error" for Republicans.