Sen. Thom Tillis publicly labeled Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and White House aide Stephen Miller "sycophants," comparing Miller to Grima Wormtongue and Noem to Dolores Umbridge amid fallout from a major immigration enforcement operation in Minnesota. Two Minneapolis residents, Alex Pretti and Renee Good, were fatally shot by federal agents, prompting protests and criticism of DHS. Tillis — who will not seek reelection — has joined calls for Noem to resign and faulted senior aides for inflaming the situation.
Tillis Calls Noem and Miller 'Sycophants,' Compares Them to Fictional Villains Amid Minnesota Crackdown
Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) sharply criticized Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller on Friday, calling both officials "sycophants" and likening them to well-known fictional villains as scrutiny intensifies over the administration’s immigration enforcement actions in Minnesota.
In a lengthy post on the social platform X, Tillis wrote that a "sycophant is more than just a 'yes-man.' It refers to someone who acts excessively servile toward someone important in order to gain an advantage." He added that such people "use excessive flattery, often insincerely, to get what they want, whether that's a promotion, social status or favor."
"He uses whispers and false flattery to control the King’s decisions, all while secretly serving Saruman," Tillis wrote, comparing Miller to Grima Wormtongue from The Lord of the Rings. "He is a classic example of a sycophant who uses his position to poison a leader’s standing for his own benefit."
Of Noem, Tillis wrote: "She is terrifyingly sweet while she is around those she considers her superiors and she sucks up to authority to gain the power she needs to bully those 'beneath' her," comparing her to Dolores Umbridge from Harry Potter.
Context and Controversy
Tillis, who announced he will not seek reelection in November, has emerged as an outspoken critic of the Trump administration and has recently joined Democrats in calls for Noem to resign. His comments come amid growing scrutiny of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) after a large-scale immigration enforcement operation in Minnesota.
Two Minneapolis residents, Alex Pretti and Renee Good, were fatally shot by federal agents in separate incidents earlier this month, prompting statewide protests. DHS has said the officers acted in self-defense; Trump administration officials have publicly characterized the victims as threats to federal immigration agents. Those characterizations have drawn sharp rebukes from Democrats and some Republicans, including Tillis.
Political Fallout
Democrats and a number of Republicans have criticized Noem’s handling of the operation and raised the possibility of impeachment proceedings. President Trump has publicly defended Noem and reiterated his criticism of the protesters. Tillis singled out both Noem and Miller for contributing to what he called "amateur hour" and said the actions were damaging to the president’s standing on a policy issue he campaigned on.
Tillis also highlighted specific messaging by senior officials: he said Miller and Noem had conveyed to the president that Alex Pretti was a "terrorist," and noted that Miller labeled Pretti a "domestic terrorist" in a post on X following the fatal shooting of an ICU nurse earlier in the month.
What’s Next
The controversy is likely to continue as federal and local authorities respond to investigations and protesters press for accountability. Political pressure on DHS leadership — including calls for resignation or impeachment — could intensify as more details emerge.
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