Senator Thom Tillis has publicly renounced his earlier support for Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, calling his confirmation vote his "biggest regret" and urging Hegseth to resign after a 60 Minutes interview tied to his new book. Tillis, who voted to confirm Hegseth in January 2025, has criticized the defense chief's management, personnel decisions and handling of the Iran conflict. His escalating rebukes in 2026 reflect a wider rift with the Trump administration after Tillis announced he will not seek reelection.
Sen. Thom Tillis Calls Confirming Pete Hegseth His "Biggest Regret" and Urges Resignation
President Donald Trump, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Senator Thom Tillis attend a dignified transfer ceremony at Dover Air Force Base on July 22, 2026. Tillis has emerged as one of Hegseth's most vocal Republican critics.
Senator Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) has publicly reversed his earlier support for Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, calling his vote to confirm Hegseth his "biggest regret" and saying the Pentagon chief should resign. Tillis made the remarks in a CBS 60 Minutes interview tied to the release of his new book.
From Support to Public Rebuke
Tillis was among the Republicans who voted to confirm Hegseth as defense secretary in January 2025, praising Hegseth's military service at the time and saying he looked forward to advancing a "peace through strength" agenda. But as questions mounted about Hegseth's management and personnel moves, Tillis's tone shifted over the next year and a half.
Key Criticisms and Timeline
In July 2025, Tillis described Hegseth as "amateurish" during a CNN interview about paused weapons shipments to Ukraine, though he initially defended his confirmation vote given the information he had then. By 2026, Tillis's criticism intensified: in May he warned against sidelining Gen. Chris Donahue amid Pentagon restructuring and accused Hegseth on X of surrounding himself with "yes-men." In July he told The Hill he had "lost my confidence" in Hegseth, citing micromanagement and the ouster of respected military leaders. Following Army Secretary Dan Driscoll's resignation in September and reports of further turmoil, Tillis urged the president to find new Pentagon leadership.
"I don't have any confidence in him anymore," Tillis said in July. On 60 Minutes, he called his confirmation vote his "biggest regret" and said Hegseth should step down.
On Iran and Military Advice
Tillis criticized Hegseth's handling of the U.S. response to Iran, suggesting the defense secretary failed to follow military counsel after early battlefield successes. "They got so caught up after the immense success of the first strike that Hegseth probably didn't listen to his best military advice," Tillis told 60 Minutes.
Wider Rift With the Trump Administration
The dispute over Hegseth is part of a broader split between Tillis and President Donald Trump. Since announcing he will not seek reelection, Tillis has repeatedly broken with the administration — opposing major initiatives like the One Big Beautiful Bill over Medicaid concerns, clashing over Iran policy, and criticizing what he says is excessive emphasis on personal loyalty to the president. Trump has defended Hegseth, telling reporters, "No. I think he's done a great job. We've pretty much destroyed their military."
What Tillis Said About Cabinet Picks
In the 60 Minutes interview, Tillis also suggested some Cabinet selections were chosen more for optics than qualifications, saying, "I think Noem and Hegseth are probably the poster children for men and women who should never have the authority they've been granted."
Newsweek reporters used AI assistance to produce the original story; Newsweek reached out to Tillis' office, the White House and the Pentagon for comment.
Help us improve.
