Tillis backs Bondi, Patel; says he trusts committees for other Trump picks

Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) announced his support of President-elect Trump’s nominees for attorney general and FBI director in a Friday post on social platform X. 

“My position on supporting Trump nominees is quite clear. And I'm looking forward to leading the charge to get Pam Bondi and Kash Patel confirmed,” Tillis wrote Friday. 

“While Breitbart did real reporting, it's sad that other outlets can't even get their basic facts right,” he said, referencing an article in which he provided comments for the outlet about his backing of Bondi and Patel.

Tillis promised to help the two advance through the Senate Judiciary Committee and pledged to support secretary of Defense nominee Pete Hegseth in addition to others who are looked upon favorably after screening from respective committees. 

“Sen. Tillis has been focused on reviewing the nominees in his committees of jurisdiction and making sure they get fair hearings, and he is working on making sure Pam Bondi and Kash Patel get through the Senate Judiciary Committee and get confirmed on the floor,” Tillis spokesperson Daniel Keylin told Breitbart News on Wednesday. 

Bondi has been meeting with senators ahead of confirmation hearings in hopes of gaining the 51 required votes to serve as attorney general. While she received minimal pushback from lawmakers, Patel’s nomination has earned mixed reactions due to his lack of experience within the FBI and plans to restructure the agency. 

“Sen. Tillis trusts his Republican colleagues to ensure that all of President Trump’s nominees get a fair confirmation process, and any nominee that gets a favorable vote out of committee will get the senator’s vote on the floor,” the spokesperson said.

The article also addressed reports from NBC that said there were six GOP senators who may oppose Hegseth’s nomination. Tillis confirmed he was not one of them.