Tillis Says Hegseth Vote Is His Biggest Regret

Sen. Thom Tillis said he regrets voting to confirm Pete Hegseth as defense secretary and hopes President Donald Trump will fire him, renewing his criticism of Hegseth during a series of interviews tied to the release of Tillis’s memoir. During an appearance on The View on Monday, Tillis said his confirmation vote was a major disappointment. He explained that he had wanted stronger evidence before voting against Hegseth, citing his concern about unsubstantiated accusations in confirmation proceedings. Tillis also said he had deferred to fellow members of the Senate Armed Services Committee, adding that he believed they had made a mistake. Tillis has described the vote as the biggest regret of his career. In a separate television interview, he reportedly urged Hegseth to resign. On Morning Joe, Tillis criticized Hegseth’s management, saying he was an actor rather than a manager, and faulted his focus on service members’ appearance and grooming. Those remarks reflect Tillis’s assessment; the accounts do not independently establish his criticisms of Hegseth’s leadership. The discussion on The View also focused on Tillis’s support for other Trump administration nominees.