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◆ Mixed look for TillisDefense / Military

Republican Senator calls on Trump to fire Hegseth for 'inept management'

Tillis publicly called for Trump to replace Hegseth, criticizing his management of the military.

Republican Senator calls on Trump to fire Hegseth for 'inept management'
Image · The Independent

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Outlet credibilityThe Independent77/100 HIGH
This article1 analysis · Oct 7, 2026
tl;dr

Senator Thom Tillis urged President Donald Trump to fire Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, accusing him of inept management after Army Secretary Dan Driscoll resigned. The article reports that the White House praised Driscoll and that The Independent sought comment from the Defense Department.

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Thom Tillis R · NC · SEN
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Thom Tillis
R · NC · SEN

Senator urging Trump to replace Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth

PRIMARY SUBJECT
Pete Hegseth
R · Secretary of Defense

Defense secretary criticized by Tillis over his management

Hegseth's version of this story ↗
Donald Trump
R · President of the United States

President whom Tillis urged to replace Hegseth

Kristi Noem
Former U.S. Representative (R-SD)

Former subject of a comparison Tillis made about Hegseth’s mistakes

J.D. Vance
Vice President of the United States

Vice President and former advisor whom Driscoll befriended

ALSO MENTIONED  Anna Kelly, White House spokesperson who praised Driscoll; Charles Q Brown Jr., Former chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff; Charles Q. Brown Jr., Former Joint Chiefs of Staff chairman listed among officials who left under Hegseth; Christopher Donahue, General listed among officials who left under Hegseth; Dan Driscoll, Army Secretary whose resignation preceded Tillis’s criticism; David Allvin, Former Air Force Chief of Staff listed among officials who left under Hegseth; Jeffrey Kruse, Former Defense Intelligence Agency leader listed among officials who left under Hegseth; John Phelan, Navy Secretary listed among officials who left under Hegseth; Lisa Franchetti, Former Joint Chiefs of Staff member listed among officials who left under Hegseth; Randy George, Former Army Chief of Staff listed among officials who left under Hegseth; Tim Haugh, Former National Security Agency director listed among officials who left under Hegseth

Part of a bigger story

7 OUTLETS
Thom Tillis Calls on Trump to Replace Pete Hegseth

Outlets agree that Senator Thom Tillis urged President Trump to replace Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, citing concerns about his leadership. Articles also place the call amid Army Secretary Dan Driscoll’s departure. Left-leaning outlets center Tillis’s sharp criticism, including an implied reference to Hegseth’s drinking. Center outlets mostly present the call through Pentagon leadership concerns and senior departures, with some also highlighting Tillis’s culture-war criticism. Right-leaning outlets pair the criticism with the White House’s defense of Hegseth and Driscoll’s departure.

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