Outgoing Senator Thom Tillis, R-N.C., expressed regret over his vote to confirm Pete Hegseth as defense secretary during an appearance on Monday's "Morning Joe." Tillis described Hegseth as lacking managerial skills, stating, "He’s an actor. He’s not a manager," and criticized his focus on the physical appearance of service members rather than operational readiness. Tillis noted that Hegseth has not shown sufficient knowledge of the Department of Defense and is concentrating on a small percentage of the organization.
Tillis’ comments come as Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., is advancing a resolution to impeach Hegseth, citing alleged violations of the War Powers Resolution. Tillis indicated he would support this resolution.
In addition to his critique of Hegseth, Tillis discussed his complex relationship with former President Donald Trump, mentioning a threat from Trump to support a primary challenge against him after Tillis voted against advancing the administration’s H.R. 1. Tillis announced his retirement following this incident.
In his new book, "How to Lose Friends and Antagonize Presidents," Tillis reflects on his interactions with Trump, emphasizing that lawmakers should be able to disagree with the president without public disputes. He commented on Trump’s legacy, suggesting it remains uncertain and depends on changes in how Trump implements his agenda.
Tillis also expressed concerns about the Republican Party straying from its traditional principles, linking the party's legacy to that of Trump. He stated, "We’ve gone away from some of our principles. We got to get back to that."