Republican Senator Thom Tillis Urges Trump to Fire Defence Secretary Hegseth Amid War With Iran

United States Senator Thom Tillis has publicly called on President Donald Trump to remove Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, accusing him of creating a leadership void at the Pentagon. The criticism comes as the US military is under strain from the ongoing war with Iran. Tillis made the appeal in a social media post on Wednesday, marking a sharp public break with a senior member of his own party.

Sponsored

In his post, Tillis said he had seen "inept management" of service members and argued that Hegseth was "intimidated by competence". He said the defence secretary was retreating into culture-war politics instead of focusing on national defence and the health and well-being of the armed forces. Tillis urged Trump to find a new Pentagon leader who would retain and empower military talent rather than diminish it.

The senator also contrasted Hegseth with former Army Secretary Dan Driscoll, who resigned on Monday after reported disagreements with the defence secretary. The intervention is notable because Tillis is a Republican and had previously voted to confirm Hegseth early in Trump's second term. At the time, Hegseth faced criticism over his conduct toward women and his past work, but Tillis ultimately backed him after delaying his decision until the last minute.

Tillis has since become one of the more outspoken critics within the party on issues he says threaten democracy, and he announced in June 2025 that he would not seek re-election in the November midterm polls. His current term ends in January. The remarks add to scrutiny of Hegseth's tenure, which has already been marked by controversial changes at the Defence Department.

Sponsored

According to the supplied material, those changes have included efforts to limit journalistic access, remove what he calls "wokeness" from the military, and review promotions and admissions standards. The row also comes at a sensitive moment for US national security leadership, with the military engaged in a war that is placing pressure on command structures, personnel management and public confidence in the Pentagon. Tillis also linked his criticism to broader changes in warfare, pointing to lessons from Russia's invasion of Ukraine and the need for modernisation.

That framing suggests the dispute is not only about personnel but also about the direction of US defence policy under Hegseth. The senator's comments may increase pressure on Trump to defend his choice or consider a change at the top of the Pentagon. They also highlight continuing tensions inside the Republican Party over the administration's handling of military affairs.

What remains unclear is whether Trump will respond publicly to Tillis's call or whether the criticism will lead to any immediate personnel change. The supplied material does not indicate any formal move to remove Hegseth. For now, the dispute appears to be a political challenge to the defence secretary's authority at a time of active conflict and internal Pentagon unrest.

#Republican #Senator #Thom #Tillis #Urges

Sponsored