Washington, DC — Sen. Thom Tillis of North Carolina sharply criticized Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller on Friday, likening both officials to fictional villains as tensions escalate over the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement policies.
In a lengthy post on the social platform X, Tillis described Noem and Miller as “sycophants,” arguing they display excessive loyalty to gain power and influence. He compared Miller to Grima Wormtongue from The Lord of the Rings, writing that the character uses flattery and manipulation to poison a leader’s judgment for personal benefit. Tillis also likened Noem to Harry Potter’s Dolores Umbridge, calling her a “bureaucratic sycophant” who flatters superiors while exercising authority harshly over others.
The comments reflect Tillis’ growing distance from the Republican Senate majority after announcing he would not seek reelection later this year. Since then, he has emerged as a vocal critic of the administration, including joining Democratic calls for Noem’s resignation.
The criticism comes amid heightened scrutiny of the Department of Homeland Security following a major immigration crackdown in Minnesota. Protests erupted after two Minneapolis residents, Alex Pretti and Renee Good, were fatally shot by federal agents in separate incidents earlier this month. DHS has said the officers acted in self-defense, while Trump officials have blamed the victims, characterizing them as threats.
Tillis rejected that narrative, calling the handling of the incidents “amateur hour” and saying the fallout has damaged the president politically on an issue central to his campaign.
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