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Sen. Tom Tillis defends Trump-era votes on Ari Melber's The Beat

politicsOct 5, 202624796

On Ari Melber's The Beat, Sen. Tom Tillis defended votes he cast during the Trump era, saying he backed many Trump nominees and framing some decisions as party loyalty while promoting his new book. Multiple viewers say Tillis used whataboutism, comparing Hunter Biden's art sales to payments received by Donald Trump and his children and suggesting advisers were at fault for poor vetting. Viewers also report Tillis justified his vote to acquit in the impeachment trial by saying Democrats did not present enough evidence, without addressing Senate GOP moves to limit witness subpoenas. Several posts describe Tillis arguing that he stood with the Republican leader and the party even when uncomfortable, and that he is now trying to rehabilitate his record on a book tour. Comments on the interview ranged from calling his explanations dishonest or disingenuous to saying he normalized problematic behavior rather than taking responsibility. Critics singled out Melber for continuing to host Tillis while he promotes the book and defends those decisions on national television.