Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., who voted to confirm Pete Hegseth as Defense secretary last year, is now backing an effort to impeach him. The move comes just weeks after Tillis called on President Donald Trump to fire the Pentagon chief.
The impeachment push began Tuesday, when Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., introduced eight articles of impeachment against Hegseth on the House floor. Massie accused the secretary of “high crimes and misdemeanors” over his handling of U.S. military operations in Iran, Venezuela and Yemen, among other actions.
The articles never came up for a vote. On Wednesday, House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., sent the chamber into an early recess instead. Massie accused House GOP leaders of calling the break because they found “other Republicans” who would join his effort.
Tillis had already made his views known. In a lengthy post on X on Sept. 2, he said he had never seen more inept management of the men and women who serve the country. He argued that Hegseth shrinks from talented people and turns to culture wars instead of the serious work of national defense and the well-being of the fighting force. Tillis urged the president to find a new Pentagon leader who would hold on to military talent and strengthen it rather than weaken it.
On Thursday, a reporter asked Tillis about Massie’s push. The reporter noted that the House would have to take up the matter when it returns, and asked whether Tillis would encourage Republicans to consider voting for the articles.
Tillis said he would let the House do what it is going to do. He added that his assessment of Hegseth is already well established and that it is not personal. He pointed to his background as a management consultant, saying he went into companies and identified where they needed to improve. In his view, there is a management problem, and Hegseth “needs to go.” He said impeachment or the more expedient route of the president simply replacing Hegseth would both be fine.
Here is where things stand. Hegseth was confirmed with Tillis’s vote last year. On Sept. 2, Tillis publicly urged Trump to fire him. On Tuesday, Massie introduced the eight articles of impeachment. On Wednesday, Johnson sent the House home early, and Massie claimed leaders feared other Republicans would back the effort. On Thursday, Tillis said the House would have to handle the matter but made clear where he stands.
The articles have not received a vote, and the House is expected to face the question when it returns from recess.
