Senator Thom Tillis, a Republican from North Carolina who cast the decisive vote confirming Pete Hegseth as Secretary of Defense, reportedly now says he would reconsider that decision in light of recent developments, describing Mr. Hegseth as clearly “out of his depth” in managing the Pentagon.
In a candid interview on CNN, Mr. Tillis, who has announced he will not seek re-election, expressed regret and frustration. “If all I had was the information on the day of the vote, I’d certainly vote for him again,” he said. “But now I have the information of him being a manager, and I don’t think his probationary period has been very positive.”
At the heart of the criticism are two incidents now seen as emblematic of Mr. Hegseth’s raw approach to military leadership. In March, he circulated sensitive Pentagon intelligence on the encrypted messaging app Signal to a journalist.
More recently, he halted U.S. weapon shipments to Ukraine without notifying either the White House or Congress, a move Mr. Tillis labeled “amateurish” and indicative of poor judgment.
“From somebody who doesn’t understand large organization dynamics, it appears out of his depth,” Mr. Tillis added. His comments underscore a growing concern among lawmakers that Mr. Hegseth has yet to demonstrate the managerial competence needed to oversee the world’s largest military.
Mr. Hegseth, a former Fox News host and Army National Guard veteran, was confirmed in January after a razor-thin 50–50 Senate vote that required Vice President J.D. Vance to break the tie.
Mr. Tillis was persuaded to support the nomination after deliberations with the vice president.
Mr. Tillis now suggests that the Senate Armed Services Committee may have overestimated Mr. Hegseth’s qualifications. “The committee was a little bit generous,” he said, noting that the scope and complexity of the Pentagon demand experienced and steady leadership.
The criticism comes as Mr. Tillis distances himself politically, having recently voted against the Republican budget bill and drawn criticism from President Trump.
“I don’t deal with that kind of bullshit,” he said, quoting his reaction to Mr. Trump’s threats to back a primary challenger.
Facing pressure on both policy and leadership fronts, Mr. Tillis portrays himself as a lawmaker unwilling to bow to intimidation or whim. “I’m stepping off the train now, but what we need is serious, professional leadership,” he said.
The episode highlights deepening skepticism within the Republican ranks about Mr. Hegseth’s stewardship.
While some colleagues—particularly those aligned with Mr. Trump—continually defend the defense secretary’s performance, Mr. Tillis’s rebuke signals fissures in support and heightened expectations for Pentagon governance under the current administration.
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