Republican Senator Thom Tillis has publicly called on President Donald Trump to fire Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth, accusing the Pentagon chief of 'inept mismanagement' as the US military is strained by the war on Iran.
Key facts
- Republican Senator Thom Tillis called on President Trump to fire Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth.
- Tillis accused the Pentagon chief of 'inept mismanagement'.
- The criticism comes as the US military is strained by the war on Iran.
- The report was published by Al Jazeera on September 2, 2026.
Republican Senator Thom Tillis has publicly urged President Donald Trump to remove Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth from his post, according to Al Jazeera. The call marks a rare instance of a member of the president’s own party demanding the dismissal of a senior Cabinet official.
In making his case, Tillis accused the Pentagon chief of ‘inept mismanagement,’ according to the report. The senator’s criticism directly targets Hegseth’s handling of the Defence Department at a moment of heightened military activity.
The intervention comes as the US military is strained by the war on Iran, Al Jazeera reported. Tillis framed his concerns around the pressures facing American forces during the ongoing conflict.
As of the report’s publication on September 2, 2026, the source did not detail any response from President Trump, the White House, or Secretary Hegseth to the senator’s demand.
The available reporting focuses on Tillis’s public statement and the reasons he gave for it. Further details about the specific decisions or circumstances prompting the accusation were not provided in the source.
Why it matters
A sitting Republican senator publicly calling for the removal of a Cabinet member from a Republican administration signals a notable break within the party. The demand also raises questions about the leadership of the US military at a time when it is under strain from the war on Iran.
Frequently asked questions
Who is calling for Pete Hegseth to be fired?
Republican Senator Thom Tillis is calling on President Trump to fire Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth, according to Al Jazeera.
Why does Senator Tillis want Hegseth removed?
Tillis accused the Pentagon chief of 'inept mismanagement' as the US military is strained by the war on Iran, according to the report.
Has Trump responded to the demand?
The source did not report any response from President Trump, the White House, or Secretary Hegseth.