Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) is breaking his silence with a blunt admission: his vote to confirm Pete Hegseth as Defense Secretary was a grave error. In his upcoming memoir, How to Lose Friends and Antagonize Presidents, Tillis calls that vote the "biggest regret of my career," according to excerpts obtained by The Associated Press.
Tillis, who has been a vocal critic of some Trump administration moves, details how he initially dismissed allegations about Hegseth's treatment of women, management style, and drinking. He admits he chose not to be "the lone voice in the wilderness," fearing political fallout if he broke with the Trump team's early demands.
"I know for a fact that there are others like me, Republicans who agreed to go along with the early demands of the Trump team no matter how ridiculous they were, believing that failing to do so would mean the end of their political career, and who now see that things have gone way too far," Tillis wrote.
The confirmation vote on January 24, 2025, stretched into the night as Tillis consulted the White House, Hegseth's associates, and the nominee himself. He ultimately could not corroborate the worst accusations against the former Fox News host and sided with his party. At the time, he insisted he had done his "due diligence" and asked Hegseth "tough questions."
"Pete has a unique perspective as a veteran of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and is unquestionably passionate about modernizing our military and supporting the brave patriots like himself who serve our nation," Tillis said in a January 2025 statement. "I will support his confirmation and look forward to working with him to rebuild our military and advance President Trump's peace through strength agenda."
Now, with Hegseth's tenure marked by controversial cuts to flag officers and unorthodox hires for Project Meridian, Tillis has reversed course. Last month, he backed an impeachment resolution against Hegseth, telling reporters: "He needs to go, whether it's impeachment or the most expedient route — just the president to replace him — would be great."
The memoir also reveals regret over confirming Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. "I guess it's easy to say now, but I'm the one who has to live with that vote and all the havoc Kennedy's tenure has caused the country as a result," Tillis wrote.
Tillis, who is retiring from Congress, predicts a "bloodbath" for Republicans in the midterm elections. He deflects blame from Trump himself, saying he has no "beef" with the president, "but the idiots he's got working for him." His comments echo his earlier fears that Trump could lash out if the GOP loses control of Congress.
