Republican Senator Urges Trump to Fire Defence Secretary Amid War Concerns
United States Senator Thom Tillis has asked President Donald Trump to remove Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth from his position. Senator Tillis is a member of the Republican Party. He accused Secretary Hegseth of poor leadership.
This call comes as the US military is fighting a war against Iran. Tillis said Hegseth has created a “leadership void” within the military. He described the management of the defence department as “inept.”
Tillis compared Hegseth to former Army Secretary Dan Driscoll. Mr. Driscoll resigned on Monday. Reports said he left due to disagreements with Secretary Hegseth.
Senator Tillis criticized Hegseth for focusing on “culture wars.” He said Hegseth should focus on national defense instead. Tillis shared these thoughts on social media.
Secretary Hegseth has made some controversial changes since taking office. He tried to limit reporters’ access to the Defence Department. He also worked to remove “wokeness” from the military.
These efforts included firing top military leaders. Hegseth also blocked some promotions. He removed transgender service members and reviewed admission standards for military academies.
Senator Tillis is a Republican. However, he has become an outspoken critic of some party policies. He announced in 2025 that he would not seek re-election. His current term ends in January.
Tillis had voted to confirm Hegseth as Defence Secretary earlier. Hegseth is a military veteran and former TV host. At the time, Tillis seemed to share some concerns debated in the Senate.
The war on Iran began on February 28. It has now been going on for six months. The US military is facing challenges, including shrinking munitions stockpiles.
The war has also affected President Trump’s popularity. Fuel prices have risen greatly. The conflict has also spread across the Middle East region.
A recent poll showed public dissatisfaction with the war. More than two-thirds of Americans disapprove of the administration’s handling of the war. This survey was from the University of Massachusetts on August 31.
