GOP senator who opposed Trump is getting pats on the back 'behind closed doors': analyst

Republican Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC) is getting behind-the-scenes praise for taking a stand against President Donald Trump's MAGA nominee for top D.C. prosecutor, according to an MSNBC analyst.

Tillis said Tuesday that he "indicated to the White House" that he will not support Ed Martin's bid to become U.S. attorney for Washington, D.C. Tillis's announcement sent MAGA world into meltdown, with members making phone calls and pronouncing their support for Martin on social media. Some even called for Tillis's ouster from the Senate committee considering Martin.

Dave Aronberg, former U.S attorney for Palm Beach County, told MSNBC's Morning Joe on Wednesday that Ed Martin had "no business being the U.S. attorney for Washington D.C."

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"This guy has never been a prosecutor ever before. He was appointed because of politics, because he represented a bunch of insurrectionists," Aronberg said. "And in addition to that, he also misled the Senate. He appeared on Russian TV more than 150 times, and refused to disclose that until called on it. So, the Senate wasn't pleased with that."

Aronberg continued, "And then, on top of that, he is friends with this Nazi sympathizer...He actually gave this guy an award. He called him extraordinary. This is a guy who dresses up as Adolf Hitler, who has a copy of Mein Kampf, who has made horrible comments about Jewish people."

Aronberg said that Tillis's defiance of Trump's pick has surely garnered him praise from Senate Republicans who were reluctant to speak out.

"You can rest assured that the other Republican senators are giving Tillis a pat on the back because they did not want to go on the board and have to vote for this guy," Aronberg said. "So, behind closed doors, I'm sure they're very pleased with their colleague from North Carolina."

Watch the clip below via CNN or click here.