President Donald Trump voiced frustration Tuesday after learning that Senator Thom Tillis is opposing his pick for U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia, Ed Martin — a move that could jeopardize the nomination in the Senate.

“It’s disappointing,” Trump said when asked about the North Carolina senator’s stance, noting that he was unaware of Tillis’ opposition until being informed by a reporter. Despite the setback, Trump stood by Martin, highlighting recent crime statistics in the nation’s capital.

Trump on Thom Tillis coming out against Ed Martin: “It’s disappointing.”

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— The Post Millennial (@TPostMillennial) May 7, 2025

“I know Ed. He’s very talented. Crime is down in Washington, DC. Street crime, violent crime by 25 percent,” Trump said, emphasizing public perception of safety improvements. “If anybody voted against him, I feel very badly about it. That’s really up to the senators if they feel that way.”

Senator Tillis confirmed Tuesday that he had informed the White House of his decision following a meeting with Martin the night before. The senator pointed to Martin’s previous legal work and public statements related to January 6 as his main source of concern.

“I have no tolerance for anybody that entered the building on Jan. 6, and that’s probably where most of the friction was,” Tillis said.

The senator’s announcement comes as Martin’s acting term nears its end, with his temporary appointment scheduled to expire on May 20. The opposition from Tillis could significantly derail the confirmation process, especially after Senate Majority Whip John Thune reportedly told Politico that Martin’s nomination is unlikely to clear the Senate Judiciary Committee.

Tillis has floated an alternative: Jay Clayton, the former chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission. Clayton was previously nominated by Trump to serve as U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, but that effort was stalled after Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer invoked procedural powers to block the nomination from moving forward.

“If you take a look at his tenure as SEC … he’s a rock solid, smart guy,” Tillis said of Clayton. “So all I’ve said was: ‘Look, if we’ve got to find another nominee, I wouldn’t count him out if he would be willing to serve.’”

Despite the political headwinds, the White House is standing behind Martin’s nomination. “Ed Martin is a fantastic US Attorney for D.C. and will continue to implement the President’s law-and-order agenda in Washington. He is the right man for the job and we look forward to his confirmation,” a White House spokesman said.