Republican Senator Tillis Calls for Trump to Fire Defense Secretary Hegseth

Senator Thom Tillis, a North Carolina Republican, posted a public call on Wednesday for President Trump to remove Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth from office, accusing him of mismanaging the military during a period of active conflict with Iran. Tillis, who had voted to confirm Hegseth early in Trump's second term despite reservations about his background, now describes the Pentagon chief as creating a "leadership void" and presiding over what he calls the most inept stewardship of military personnel he has ever witnessed.

The senator's rebuke came days after Army Secretary Dan Driscoll resigned on Monday following reported clashes with Hegseth over military priorities. Tillis used Driscoll's departure as a focal point for his criticism, contrasting the departing official's forward-thinking approach to modern warfare with what he characterizes as Hegseth's fixation on internal culture war battles. In his social media statement, Tillis wrote that Hegseth appears intimidated by competent leaders and retreats into divisive cultural disputes rather than focusing on the serious work of national defense and the welfare of troops.

Since taking office, Hegseth has pursued a sweeping agenda to eliminate what he terms "wokeness" from military ranks. This effort has included firing senior military officers, blocking promotions for others, removing transgender service members, and revising admission standards at military academies. He has also moved to restrict press access to the Pentagon. Tillis argues these priorities miss the point entirely. He points to the evolving nature of warfare demonstrated in Russia's invasion of Ukraine and the ongoing US-Israeli conflict with Iran as evidence that military leadership must focus on modernization and strategic adaptation, not internal ideological battles.

The timing of Tillis's statement reflects mounting pressure on Hegseth as the Iran war, which began on February 28, approaches its six-month mark with no resolution in sight. The conflict has strained Pentagon resources significantly. Military munitions stockpiles have shrunk to levels that officials worry could compromise the US military's capacity to respond to future crises. Fuel prices have climbed sharply, and the fighting has expanded across the broader Middle East region.

Tillis occupies an unusual position within Republican ranks. Though a party member, he has grown increasingly willing to challenge Trump administration policies he believes threaten democratic institutions. In June 2025, after facing criticism from Trump, he announced he would not seek re-election in November's midterm elections, meaning his current term ends in January. That decision may have freed him to speak more directly about his concerns regarding Pentagon leadership.

The broader political context adds weight to the senator's criticism. The Iran war has become a liability for the Trump administration ahead of the midterm elections. According to a University of Massachusetts poll released on August 31, more than two-thirds of Americans disapprove of how the administration has handled the conflict. The combination of rising fuel costs, military strain, and public disapproval has eroded the administration's approval ratings as voters prepare to cast ballots in November.

Hegseth's confirmation vote in the Senate had been close, with Tillis confirming his support only at the last moment, signaling his own hesitation about the nomination. Now, with the military struggling to achieve its objectives in Iran and experienced Pentagon leaders departing over disagreements with the defense secretary's approach, Tillis is making explicit what his late confirmation vote had only hinted at: that Hegseth may lack the judgment and priorities necessary to lead the Defense Department during a period of active military conflict.