Fact Check: Tillis compared himself to Manchin and Sinema, criticizing party loyalty pressures.

Fact Check: "Tillis compared himself to Manchin and Sinema, criticizing party loyalty pressures."

What We Know

The claim that Senator Thom Tillis compared himself to Senators Joe Manchin and Kyrsten Sinema, while criticizing pressures related to party loyalty, requires careful examination. As of now, there is no direct evidence or public statement from Tillis explicitly making this comparison or criticism.

Tillis has a history of bipartisan actions, having voted against party lines on several occasions, such as supporting the Respect for Marriage Act, which recognized same-sex marriage at the federal level, despite previously opposing such measures. This indicates a willingness to diverge from strict party loyalty when he believes it aligns with his constituents' interests.

Moreover, both Manchin and Sinema have been known for their moderate stances within the Democratic Party, often facing backlash from their own party for not adhering strictly to party lines. This context is important as it highlights the nature of party loyalty pressures within the Senate, but it does not confirm that Tillis has made a direct comparison to them.

Analysis

The absence of a direct quote or a specific instance where Tillis has compared himself to Manchin and Sinema suggests that the claim may be speculative or misinterpreted. The sources available do not provide any statements from Tillis that align with this assertion.

For instance, while Tillis has faced criticism from figures like former President Trump for his votes, particularly against significant party-backed legislation, this does not equate to a public declaration of solidarity with Manchin and Sinema regarding party pressures. In fact, Trump's threats of primary challenges against Tillis for his votes indicate that Tillis is still very much within the Republican fold, albeit with some independence in his voting record (Axios, NBC News).

Furthermore, the reliability of the sources discussing Tillis's political actions is generally high, as they come from established news outlets and official records. However, the lack of a direct statement regarding the comparison to Manchin and Sinema raises questions about the veracity of the claim itself.

Conclusion

Needs Research. The claim that Thom Tillis compared himself to Manchin and Sinema while criticizing party loyalty pressures lacks direct evidence and requires further investigation. While Tillis has shown a willingness to break from party lines, there is no clear indication that he has made the specific comparison mentioned. More context or direct quotes from Tillis would be necessary to substantiate this claim.

Fact Check: Tillis compared himself to Manchin and Sinema, criticizing party loyalty pressures.