Tillis calls Hegseth vote his ‘biggest regret’

Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) wrote in his upcoming book that he views his confirmation vote for Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth as the “biggest regret” of his career.

Tillis’s upcoming memoir — “How to Lose Friends and Antagonize Presidents,” which will hit the shelves Tuesday — breaks down how he was skeptical of allegations made about Hegseth’s treatment of women, style of management and excessive drinking, The Associated Press reported . But he said he chose not to be “the lone voice in the wilderness.”

“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.

Tillis pushed the confirmation vote late into the evening on Jan. 24, 2025, as he spoke with the White House, people who worked with Hegseth and the nominee himself, the AP reported. He ultimately failed to corroborate the worst of the allegations against the former Fox News host, siding with Republicans.

At the time of the vote, he said he conducted his “due diligence” to ask 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,” he 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.”

The North Carolina Republican, who has been a vocal critic of some of the president’s policies and proposals and who will be leaving Congress at the end of his term, has suggested that he would not have confirmed Hegseth, but said in July 2025 that he did not regret the decision.

Last month, Tillis said he backed an impeachment resolution against Hegseth.

“He needs to go, whether it’s impeachment or the most expedient route — just the president to replace him — would be great,” he told reporters.

The memoir also delves into Tillis’s regret over confirming Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., among other Cabinet officials he criticizes in the book, the AP wrote.

“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 about the secretary.

He predicted a “bloodbath” for Republicans looking to keep and expand their majorities in Congress after the November midterm elections, and he deflected full blame from Trump. He wrote that he does not have “beef” with the president, “but the idiots he’s got working for him.”