Sen. Ron Johnson (R-WI) suggested that Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC) changed his vote on the One Big Beautiful Bill Act because he was trying to “protect that scam” of Medicaid abuse in his state.

All Republican senators except Sens. Tillis and Rand Paul (R-KY) voted for the tax legislation to progress in the chamber. As further votes are expected Monday, both are likely to continue to vote against it, and Johnson addressed Tillis’s criticisms of the changes to Medicaid while on Fox News’s Fox & Friends Monday.

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“Nobody in the Republican Party is trying to impact Medicaid for disabled children,” Johnson said. “States have gamed the system. Providers have gamed the system. My guess is North Carolina is one of the states that gamed it the most. In the $9 to $1 match, for provider fees, provider taxes, again, that’s not healthcare. That’s just the way the states and providers have gamed the system, to suck down more of what I would consider legalized fraud from the federal government. We can’t afford it, and it’s putting at risk Medicaid for children and vulnerable people. Again, North Carolina may be one of the biggest abusers, and I guess [Tillis is] trying to protect that scam for North Carolina.”

Johnson told reporters following his vote that Senate leadership had committed to an amendment from Sen. Rick Scott (R-FL) that would limit Medicaid reimbursements for states that expanded the entitlement under Obamacare. The amendment would still have to go to a vote before the Senate. This would affect the $9 match for every $1 states spend on Medicaid, specifically for adults with no children, who Johnson suggested are capable of working.

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Tillis’s vote angered Trump. The president already criticized Paul because he “votes NO on everything, but never has any practical or constructive ideas.” After Tillis voted against advancing the bill, Trump announced he would meet with primary challengers for his seat.

Still, the North Carolina senator held his ground. Tillis said the legislation would result in “devastating” changes to Medicaid and suggested the bill legislate the service as it was written by the House when it passed. On Sunday, Tillis announced he would not be running for reelection.