Republican Sen. Tillis calls his vote for Hegseth the 'biggest regret of my career' in a new book
Tillis says he regrets supporting Hegseth’s confirmation and uses his book to criticize Trump and other administration officials.

SOURCE CHECK
TAP FOR WHYCredibility rates ABC News, where this article appeared. The other scores rate the article itself.
ABC News is an established national news organization, and this article identifies the Associated Press as the reporting source. The wire-service attribution supports confidence in its editorial process, though the reporting is primarily based on excerpts from Tillis’s book.
- Source type — Established national news outlet publishing a wire-service report.
- Author attribution — The byline identifies the Associated Press as the reporting source.
- Editorial standards — ABC News is a prominent newsroom with established editorial operations.
The report gives specific excerpts and vote details, attributes Tillis’s claims to his book, and notes Hegseth’s denial of earlier allegations. It relies heavily on one source’s account and offers little response to Tillis’s new criticisms.
HOW WE SCORE ↗The article attributes the main assertions to Tillis and notes Hegseth’s denial of earlier allegations. It does not include responses from Trump, Kennedy or the other officials criticized in the book.
- Source diversity — Most of the account comes from Tillis’s book, with limited independent or opposing voices.
- Counterarguments presented — Hegseth’s denial of the allegations is included, but responses to Tillis’s wider criticisms are not.
- Opinion vs reporting — The article presents the book’s opinions as attributed claims rather than adopting them.
The article reports Tillis’s criticisms and praise of Trump in attributed language, with little editorial language of its own. Its focus on Tillis’s account does not establish a discernible partisan lean.
- Language tone — Mostly neutral, attributed reporting, including Tillis’s criticism and praise of Trump.
- Framing — The report centers on the book’s claims and provides context about Tillis’s earlier vote and break with Trump.
- Source selection — Tillis’s book supplies most of the article’s statements; Hegseth’s denial is noted.
Original publisher not identified
This article credits another publisher, which ChamberLight has not identified, so the scores are ABC News's own.
Sen. Thom Tillis says in a forthcoming book that his vote to confirm Pete Hegseth is the biggest regret of his career, and that he should have opposed Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s confirmation. The book also criticizes President Donald Trump and other administration officials.
Tillis writes that he regrets supporting Hegseth’s confirmation, after weighing allegations about Hegseth’s management style, treatment of women and drinking. Hegseth denied the allegations. Tillis says his vote made the Senate tally 50-50, with Vice President J.D. Vance breaking the tie.
The book criticizes Trump’s policies and personnel choices, warns of authoritarianism and predicts Republican losses in the midterm elections. Tillis also writes that he should have stopped Kennedy’s confirmation, citing what he calls the havoc Kennedy’s tenure caused.
Community verdict
20 VOTESPeople in this story
SWIPE →Senator discussing his votes and criticism of the Trump administration in a forthcoming book
Former director of national intelligence whom Tillis criticizes in the book
President criticized by Tillis in the book
Defense secretary whose confirmation Tillis says he regrets supporting
Health and Human Services secretary whose confirmation Tillis says he should have opposed
Commerce secretary whom Tillis criticizes in the book
Former homeland security secretary whom Tillis criticizes in the book
Vice President who broke the tie on Hegseth’s confirmation
Part of a bigger story
8 OUTLETSOutlets agree Tillis has said he regrets voting to confirm Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and has criticized the Trump administration. Left-leaning outlets focus on Tillis’s regret over confirming Hegseth and his disagreements with Trump and the Republican Party. Center outlets cover the same regret while also highlighting his warning about Trump’s response to Republican midterm losses and his criticism of executive power. Right-leaning outlets center the book’s account of his Hegseth vote regret and strained relationship with Trump.
- ARTICLES
- 10
- OUTLETS
- 8
- AVG CRED
- 78
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