Republican Senator Thom Tillis Urges President Trump to Dismiss Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth Amid Iran War

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth spoke during a ceremony at the Pentagon in Washington, DC on August 26, 2026. United States Senator Thom Tillis has called on President Donald Trump to remove Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth from his position, citing a dangerous “leadership void” created within the military during the ongoing war with Iran.

In a social media statement released on Wednesday, Senator Thom Tillis sharply contrasted Pete Hegseth with former Army Secretary Dan Driscoll, who tendered his resignation on Monday following reported disagreements with the Pentagon chief.

“I have never witnessed more inept management of the brave men and women who serve our country. He is 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,” the North Carolina senator wrote. “I urge the President to find a new leader at the Pentagon who will retain and empower our military talent rather than diminish it.”

Senator Thom Tillis, a member of President Donald Trump’s Republican Party, has increasingly voiced criticism from within regarding policies he believes undermine democracy. In June 2025, amid pressure from President Donald Trump, Senator Thom Tillis announced he would forgo seeking re-election in the upcoming November congressional midterm polls, with his term concluding in January.

Earlier in the second term of President Donald Trump, Senator Thom Tillis was among the lawmakers who voted to confirm Pete Hegseth, a military veteran and former TV host, despite widespread concerns regarding his past conduct and work history. Senator Thom Tillis delayed his supporting vote until the final moments, reflecting the debates occurring within the Senate.

Since assuming his role as defence secretary, Pete Hegseth has instituted contentious changes at the Pentagon, including measures to restrict journalistic access to the Defence Department and an extensive initiative to eliminate what he terms “wokeness” from the armed forces. These actions have reportedly involved dismissing senior military leaders, halting promotions, removing transgender service members, and re-evaluating admission criteria for premier military academies.

Highlighting these developments on Wednesday, Senator Thom Tillis questioned Pete Hegseth’s emphasis on culture war topics over military modernization, pointing to shifting warfare strategies observed during Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the joint US-Israeli war against Iran.

“Our understanding and assumptions of warfare are being challenged in places like Ukraine and Iran, and Dan [Driscoll] understands the old way of doing business no longer applies,” Senator Thom Tillis stated. He further suggested that the departure of Dan Driscoll directly stemmed from the mismanagement of Pete Hegseth.

“If we had a Secretary of Defense 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. Instead, he is creating a leadership void at the top of our military ranks,” he added.

Pete Hegseth has faced mounting scrutiny as the United States struggles to achieve its strategic objectives in the war on Iran, which commenced on February 28 and marked its six-month anniversary without a resolution. Media reports reveal that the conflict has left the Pentagon grappling with depleted munitions stockpiles that could impair future military readiness. The protracted war has similarly negatively impacted the popularity of the administration of President Donald Trump, leading to declining approval ratings ahead of the November congressional elections, soaring fuel prices, and regional instability across the Middle East. According to a University of Massachusetts poll published on August 31, more than two-thirds of Americans express disapproval of the administration’s management of the conflict.