President Donald Trump on Friday called Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., a "loser" and insisted that his mounting criticisms of the administration were largely due to his frustration that he would soon leave office.

Tillis is in his second term as a senator, but is not seeking reelection. Trump has long claimed that the relative moderate's opposition to some of his initiatives would've made him unlikely to secure the Republican nomination.

“Sen. Tillis is a loser. He didn’t run because I wouldn’t support him,” Trump told reporters. “He’s just an angry man because he’s not going to be a senator any longer."

Tillis has threatened to oppose acting Attorney General Todd Blanche's nomination to the post in a full capacity unless the nominee condemns the Jan. 6 incident, The Hill reported. "The issue has long been a point of contention for Tillis, who opposed many of Trump's Jan. 6 pardons and expressed concerns that a now-abandoned "anti-weaponization fund" could be used to remunerate participants in the disturbance.

“He was forced to leave the Senate because I wouldn’t support him and he quit, so now he’s trying to make trouble by opposing anyone," Trump insisted.

Former Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Whatley has secured the Republican nomination to succeed Tillis. He faces former Gov. Roy Cooper, D-N.C., in the November election.

Ben Whedon is the Chief Political Correspondent for Just the News. Follow him on X.