Republican Senator Calls On Trump to Replace Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth

Republican Sen. Thom Tillis is urging President Donald Trump to replace Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth because of what he described as “inept management.”

The North Carolina lawmaker’s call to oust Hegseth comes after Dan Driscoll resigned from his role as Army Secretary on Monday, amid tension that had been reportedly broiling between Driscoll and Hegseth for months. In a social media post on Wednesday, Tillis thanked Driscoll “for his leadership to our Army and service to our country,” before going on to slam Hegseth.

“If we had a @SecWar who maintained the same priorities and forward-thinking, he would be fighting to retain talented leaders like Dan and the many flag officers he has forced into retirement,” Tillis said. “Instead, he is creating a leadership void at the top of our military ranks.”

Tillis, who previously served on the Senate Armed Services Committee, included in his post a link to a CBS News article that lists about 20 military and civilian leaders who have been ousted or stepped down since Hegseth was confirmed to lead the Department of Defense, including Driscoll. Also among them is Gen. Randy George, who was serving as the Army Chief of Staff until Hegseth requested that he retire, effective immediately, in the spring.

Tillis voted to confirm Hegseth as Defense Secretary last year, though he initially had reservations about him. Amid mounting controversy surrounding Hegseth’s nomination, three other Republicans broke from party ranks and voted against it, forcing Vice President J.D. Vance to be the tiebreaking vote. It was the smallest margin for the confirmation of a nominee to lead the Defense Department since the Secretary role was first formed in 1947, Senate records indicate.

Despite Tillis’ crucial vote in the confirmation, he has since publicly criticized the Defense Secretary. The Republican Senator told POLITICO in May that he thought that “Hegseth misinformed [the President] on the challenges” related to a war in Iran, adding that “I’m glad the president did what he did in Iran. I’m not glad that he has Hegseth advising him on the details.” He went on to tell the news outlet: “I’d love to see Pete Hegseth fired because he’s incompetent and doing a horrible job. That’s kind of on a Christmas wish list.”

And he renewed those calls on Wednesday.

“I have never witnessed more inept management of the brave men and women who serve our country,” Tillis said in his post on X. He accused Hegseth of being “intimidated by competence and retreats to ginning up culture wars instead of soberly attending to the vital work of our national defense and the health and well-being of our fighting force.” 

“I urge the President to find a new leader at the Pentagon who will retain and empower our military talent rather than diminish it,” Tillis continued.

Tillis and Trump have clashed in the past, most notably when the North Carolina Senator joined two other Republicans in the upper chamber in voting against the President’s “One Big Beautiful Bill” last year. In the aftermath, the President lashed out at Tillis, threatening to back candidates who could challenge Tillis in a Republican primary race. 

Soon after, Tillis announced that he would not seek reelection in the 2026 midterms, citing what he described as a shift away from bipartisanship in Washington in recent years.

“Too many elected officials are motivated by pure raw politics who really don’t give a damn about the people they promised to represent on the campaign trail,” Tillis said in a statement last June. He added that a choice “between spending another six years navigating the political theatre and partisan gridlock in Washington or spending that time with” his family is “not a hard choice.”

Trump has remained firm in his support for Hegseth. Amid speculation that Hegseth is considering launching a 2028 presidential bid, a reporter asked the President if he would back the Defense Secretary in such an event.

“I think he’s doing a fantastic job, but it’s very early to talk about that,” Trump said. “We have to get through the midterms first, and I think he’s a very good guy.”

“Right now, all [Hegseth] loves is, and all he cares about is, the military and taking care of the military,” he continued.

Hegseth has denied that he is considering running for President in 2028.