Thom Tillis

Force in Play

Called the Iran deal potentially 'doomed to fail' on May 25; demanded Senate ratification; also slammed Defense Secretary Hegseth's advice to Trump on the war

Ship crossings through the Strait of Hormuz fell to their lowest in more than two months as tanker attacks reached their highest weekly level since the war began. Kpler counted seven commodity vessels on Tuesday, down from more than 20 on Sunday and Monday, and put crude flows at 10.1 million barrels a day, about 74 percent of the pre-war level.

Updated 5 days ago

Money Moves

Threatening to block Fed nominees over DOJ investigation

Five years into the inflation fight, prices still run above the Fed's 2% target, and the central bank has reversed course to tighten. After cutting rates six times from September 2024 to December 2025, the FOMC voted unanimously on September 16 to raise its benchmark rate a quarter point to 3.75% to 4.00% — the first increase since 2023.

Updated Oct 3

Rule Changes

Vowed to block Warsh confirmation until Powell DOJ investigation concludes

No president has fired a sitting Federal Reserve governor in the central bank's 112-year history. Donald Trump is trying to be the first and wants to replace the Fed chair with a loyalist.

Updated May 22

Force in Play

Co-led congressional delegation to Copenhagen January 16-17

The United States has operated military bases in Greenland since 1941, under agreements with Denmark. On January 15, 2026, NATO allies deployed troops to the island to counter U.S. pressure after American-Danish talks collapsed. On January 17, President Trump announced 10% tariffs on eight European countries: Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, and the United Kingdom. The tariffs will rise to 25% by June unless 'a deal is reached for the Complete and Total purchase of Greenland.' On January 20, Trump declared on Truth Social that 'there can be no going back' on Greenland, calling it 'imperative for National and World Security.' That same day, Denmark deployed its Army Chief, General Peter Boysen, alongside 58 additional troops to Greenland, bringing total Danish military presence to approximately 178 personnel for Operation Arctic Endurance.

Updated May 21

Money Moves

Opposing Fed nominations until Powell probe resolved

Gold pulled back sharply to $4,902.85 per ounce on January 31, 2026, after profit-taking triggered a 9% single-day decline on January 30 from the record $5,594.82 high reached January 29. Despite the correction—which saw prices slide more than 7% to below $4,980—gold remains on track for a monthly gain exceeding 15%, its strongest performance since the 1980s.

Updated May 21

Money Moves

Maintaining blockade against Warsh nomination; creates 12-12 Senate Banking Committee deadlock

On January 30, 2026, President Trump nominated former Fed Governor Kevin Warsh to succeed Jerome Powell as Fed Chair when Powell's term expires in May. Gold, which had surged to a record $5,626 per ounce amid the constitutional crisis over Powell's criminal investigation, plunged 11% in hours as investors bet Warsh would preserve central bank independence.

Updated May 20

Rule Changes

Blocking all Trump Fed nominees; retiring at end of term

No president has ever criminally investigated a sitting Federal Reserve chair. When Trump's Justice Department served Jerome Powell with grand jury subpoenas on January 11, two Republican senators announced they would block all Fed nominees until the probe ends. With a 13-11 GOP majority on the Banking Committee, even one defection creates a confirmation stalemate.

Updated May 20

Rule Changes

Voted to confirm Warsh after DOJ dropped Powell probe

The Senate confirmed Kevin Warsh as the 17th Federal Reserve chair on May 13, 54-45—the closest such vote on record. He took over on May 15, when Jerome Powell's term expired and Powell stepped back to a regular governor seat.

Updated May 15