Was Thom Tillis wrong to vote to confirm Pete Hegseth?
Read Thom Tillis's statements on his deciding January 2025 vote to confirm Pete Hegseth, from his due-diligence defense to his October 2026 admission of a mistake, and critics who say he had the warning signs.
Claim in dispute
Before casting the deciding vote, Tillis had found "compelling evidence" that the allegations about Hegseth's management style, treatment of women and drinking had substance.
Case period:
Published by The Dispute Index editorial teamPublished Updated
Overview
This case classifies responses to one act: Sen. Thom Tillis's January 24, 2025 vote to confirm Pete Hegseth as Secretary of Defense. A statement that calls the vote a mistake is labeled as condemning it, including Tillis's own later statements. A statement that defends the vote or Hegseth's confirmation is labeled as defending it. Whether Hegseth should now leave office is a separate question, tracked in the case on impeachment proposals against him.
The Senate Armed Services Committee advanced the nomination 14-13 on January 20, 2025, over Democratic objections. Democrats cited allegations that Hegseth had mismanaged two veterans organizations, drunk at work and sexually assaulted a woman in 2017 (Stars and Stripes (opens in a new tab)). Hegseth denied the allegations (NBC News (opens in a new tab)).
On January 21, senators received a sworn affidavit from Danielle Hegseth, the former wife of Hegseth's brother. It says his conduct made his second wife fear for her safety and that she believes he has an alcohol abuse problem. His second wife said there was no physical abuse in her marriage, and Hegseth's lawyer called the claims false (NBC News (opens in a new tab)). The Wall Street Journal later reported that Tillis had told Danielle Hegseth in a January 19 call that her statement would carry weight and could move three Republican votes, including his own (Political Wire, quoting the Journal (opens in a new tab)). Tillis said he told her the allegations would carry weight if they could be corroborated, and that he could not reach anyone who could corroborate them (Fox News (opens in a new tab)).
On January 24, with Republican Sens. Susan Collins, Mitch McConnell and Lisa Murkowski voting no, Tillis cast the 50th yes vote and Vance broke the tie (Senate roll call vote 15 (opens in a new tab)). His office said he had deferred to the committee and done his own due diligence (Tillis statement (opens in a new tab)).
Tillis, who is not seeking reelection, published How to Lose Friends and Antagonize Presidents on October 6, 2026. The Associated Press reported that the book calls the Hegseth vote the "biggest regret of my career" (AP (opens in a new tab)). The Washington Examiner reported that the book describes a White House effort to win his vote, including a request from Vance that he vote yes as a personal favor (Washington Examiner (opens in a new tab)). Tillis discussed the regret on 60 Minutes, The View, Real Time with Bill Maher and Meet the Press. On Real Time he said he had voted with "the unanimous vote out of Senate Armed Services Committee" (Mediaite (opens in a new tab)). The committee vote was 14-13.
As of October 12, 2026, we had not found a public response from Hegseth, the Pentagon or the White House to Tillis's statements about his vote.
People in this case
- Thom TillisDirectly involved
Pete HegsethDirectly involved
Timeline
6 timeline entries on this page. Dates: January 19, 2025 to October 6, 2026
January 2025
4 events
Tillis speaks with Danielle Hegseth before she signs an affidavit
Tillis spoke by phone with Danielle Hegseth, the former wife of Pete Hegseth's brother, about a sworn statement she was preparing for the Senate Armed Services Committee. The Wall Street Journal reported on January 27, citing people who witnessed the call, that Tillis told her the statement would carry weight and could move three Republican votes, including his own. Tillis said he told her that the allegations would carry weight if they were true and could be corroborated.
[01]Tillis Assured Hegseth's Former Sister-in-Law
Political Wire quotes a Wall Street Journal report that Tillis told Danielle Hegseth in a January 19, 2025 call, witnessed by two other people, that her sworn statement would carry weight and could move three Republican votes, including his own. The Journal's original article is behind a paywall.
Tillis Assured Hegseth's Former Sister-in-LawFull post quoting The Wall Street Journal[02]Sen. Tillis opens up about role in Pete Hegseth's confirmation after Hegseth's ex-sister-in-law's allegations
In an interview with Fox News Digital a week after the vote, Tillis described his call with Danielle Hegseth and said he could not find anyone to corroborate her account.
Armed Services Committee advances Hegseth's nomination, 14-13
Incident
The Senate Armed Services Committee voted 14-13 to send Hegseth's nomination to the Senate floor, over the objections of Democrats who cited allegations of mismanagement, drinking at work and a 2017 sexual assault accusation.
[03]Senate Armed Services Committee advances Pete Hegseth's nomination as defense secretary
Stars and Stripes reported the committee's 14-13 vote to send the nomination to the Senate floor over Democratic objections, and the allegations Democrats cited against Hegseth: mismanagement of two veterans organizations, drinking at work and a 2017 sexual assault accusation.
Senate Armed Services Committee advances Pete Hegseth's nomination as defense secretary · Stars and StripesOpening paragraphsSenators receive Danielle Hegseth's affidavit
Source release
Senators received Danielle Hegseth's sworn affidavit, submitted in response to a letter from Sen. Jack Reed. It says Hegseth's conduct made his second wife fear for her safety and that she believes he has an alcohol abuse problem. The affidavit says she came forward partly because she had been assured that it would lead undecided senators to vote against him. His second wife said there was no physical abuse in her marriage, and Hegseth's lawyer called the claims false.
[04]Senators receive affidavit containing new allegations against Pete Hegseth, who denies the claims
NBC News reported the contents of Danielle Hegseth's affidavit, which it reviewed in redacted form, along with denials from Samantha Hegseth and from Pete Hegseth's lawyer. The affidavit says she was assured that her statement would lead undecided senators to vote against the nomination.
Senate confirms Hegseth after Tillis casts the 50th vote
Incident
Tillis announced that he would support the nomination, saying he had deferred to the committee and done his own due diligence. With Republican Sens. Collins, McConnell and Murkowski voting no, his yes vote made the tally 50-50, and Vice President JD Vance cast the tie-breaking vote to confirm Hegseth.
[05]U.S. Senate Roll Call Vote 15 (119th Congress, 1st session): Pete Hegseth confirmed as Secretary of Defense, 50-50 with the Vice President voting yea
The official Senate tally of the vote on the nomination (PN11-7). The result reads Nomination Confirmed (50-50, Vice President of the United States, voted Yea). Republican Sens. Collins, McConnell and Murkowski voted nay.
U.S. Senate Roll Call Vote 15 (119th Congress, 1st session): Pete Hegseth confirmed as Secretary of Defense, 50-50 with the Vice President voting yeaVote 15, January 24, 2025, 8:57 p.m.; Tillis (R-NC) listed as Yea; tie broken by the Vice President[06]Tillis Statement on Vote to Confirm Pete Hegseth as Secretary of Defense
Tillis's Senate office released this statement on the day of the confirmation vote. It sets out why he would vote yes.
Tillis Statement on Vote to Confirm Pete Hegseth as Secretary of Defense · Thom TillisFull press release, dated January 24, 2025[07]Republican Sen. Tillis calls his vote for Hegseth the 'biggest regret of my career' in a new book
The Associated Press reported from an advance copy of Tillis's book How to Lose Friends and Antagonize Presidents, published October 6, 2026.
Republican Sen. Tillis calls his vote for Hegseth the 'biggest regret of my career' in a new book · Associated PressFull Associated Press article as published by ABC News
618 days between recorded events
October 2026
2 events
60 Minutes airs interview with Tillis about his book
CBS's 60 Minutes aired Ross Douthat's interview with Tillis. The program reported that Tillis now calls his Hegseth vote his biggest regret and wants Hegseth to resign. In the interview, Tillis said Kristi Noem and Hegseth were probably the poster children for officials who should never have been given the authority they hold.
[08]60 Minutes Transcript: Sen. Thom Tillis
CBS News's transcript of the 60 Minutes segment that aired October 4, 2026. The narration says Tillis now calls his Hegseth vote his biggest regret and is calling for Hegseth to resign; those are the program's summaries, not Tillis's words.
60 Minutes Transcript: Sen. Thom Tillis · CBS NewsTranscript passages on the book, the Hegseth vote and the Iran warTillis publishes book calling the Hegseth vote his biggest regret
Source release
Tillis published How to Lose Friends and Antagonize Presidents. According to the Associated Press, the book calls his deciding vote for Hegseth the biggest regret of his career while defending his decision at the time not to be the lone Republican blocking a nominee. The Washington Examiner reported that the book describes the pressure he faced before the vote, including a call from Donald Trump Jr., a White House visit and a request from Vance that he vote yes as a personal favor.
[07]Republican Sen. Tillis calls his vote for Hegseth the 'biggest regret of my career' in a new book
The Associated Press reported from an advance copy of Tillis's book How to Lose Friends and Antagonize Presidents, published October 6, 2026.
Republican Sen. Tillis calls his vote for Hegseth the 'biggest regret of my career' in a new book · Associated PressFull Associated Press article as published by ABC News[09]Tillis reveals 'biggest regret of my career' in new book on Trump 2.0
The Washington Examiner reported on Tillis's book, including his account of the White House effort to secure his vote and a request from Vice President JD Vance that he vote yes as a personal favor.
Tillis reveals 'biggest regret of my career' in new book on Trump 2.0 · Washington ExaminerParagraphs on the Hegseth vote and the pressure campaign
Claims
Claims separate what was said from what is contested. Follow each source for the original wording and context.
What's disputed
Disputed claim
Before casting the deciding vote, Tillis had found "compelling evidence" that the allegations about Hegseth's management style, treatment of women and drinking had substance.
Sources (1)
- The most infuriating admission Thom Tillis made in his new bookFull opinion column
Response record
Responses
Latest recorded positions: 4. Dates: October 5, 2026 to October 11, 2026
Choose one response filter, or select All responses to see the full record.
3 responses on this page
Thom TillisU.S. senator for North Carolina, interviewed on NBC's Meet the PressDirectly involved"I made a mistake. I’ve admitted that I made a mistake."
CondemnedCase context: Was Thom Tillis wrong to vote to confirm Pete Hegseth?
Read more
Asked on Meet the Press, "Do you regret that vote?", Tillis said he dedicates a whole chapter of his book to his biggest regret and that "I regret that decision." He said he made a mistake, comparing Hegseth to someone who was hired and later has to be fired.
Before the statement
Moderator Kristen Welker asked: "Senator, let me ask though, you're being very critical of Pete Hegseth, you did vote to confirm Pete Hegseth. Do you regret that vote? Do you bear any responsibility for this moment?" Tillis answered: "Well, I don't know. I probably was a little subtle in my book. I dedicate a whole chapter to my biggest regret. So, I think it's pretty clear that I regret that decision. Look, I've got a track record of supporting presidents' cabinet picks, dating all the way back to Obama." He said a president should get as many picks as possible, then added: "But there's no question, based on his job performance. He got hired, but I'm sure that in your business and in everybody's business you've had to fire people you hired. That's the point."
After the statement
He continued: "And now I want to try and put somebody in place that will help the president's legacy and make Americans safer. And that is not Pete Hegseth."
Meet the Press - October 11, 2026 · NBC NewsKristen Welker's interview with Sen. Thom Tillis, questions on the Hasan execution and the Hegseth voteWhy this label?
Relative to his January 2025 vote, Tillis calls it a mistake and his biggest regret. That rejects the vote, so the label is condemns even though he is the senator who cast it. He grounds the judgment in Hegseth's later job performance and repeats that presidents deserve their picks; that explains his reasoning without qualifying the conclusion, so a mixed or conditional label does not fit.
This label describes the statement's response within the context above.
- Thom TillisU.S. senator for North Carolina, in an interview with CNN's Jake TapperDirectly involved
"I don’t regret the decision I made back then based on the facts as I knew them then"
Defended or excusedCase context: Was Thom Tillis wrong to vote to confirm Pete Hegseth?
Read more
In a CNN interview, Tillis said Hegseth was out of his depth as a manager and that the Armed Services Committee may have been generous in assessing him, but that he did not regret his vote based on the facts he had at the time.
Before the statement
NBC News reports that Tillis told CNN he voted yes because there was "never an example of an eyewitness-corroborated account" of the allegations. He also said that "with the passing of time, I think it's clear he's out of his depth as a manager of a large, complex organization" and called the pause in weapons shipments to Ukraine amateurish.
After the statement
He added that he was "beginning to wonder if maybe Armed Services was a little bit generous" in assessing Hegseth as a manager. Asked whether he would vote for Hegseth again, he said that if all he had was the information from the day of the vote, he would.
GOP Sen. Thom Tillis says Hegseth is 'out of his depth' as defense secretary · NBC NewsParagraphs quoting Tillis's July 9, 2025 CNN interviewWhy this label?
Relative to Tillis's January 2025 vote, he says he does not regret it on the facts he had and would cast it again on that information. That defends the vote as made. His criticism is aimed at Hegseth's performance since the vote and at the committee's assessment, so a mixed or conditional label would overstate the tension: the condition he names concerns information that came later.
This label describes the statement's response within the context above.
- Thom TillisU.S. senator for North Carolina, in a statement from his Senate officeDirectly involved
"From the beginning, I have been clear about my position: if President Trump’s nominees were reported favorably out of the relevant committees, I would support their confirmation on the Senate floor absent new material information about their qualifications. Once Pete Hegseth’s nomination was sent to the floor by my colleagues on the Senate Armed Services Committee, I conducted my own due diligence, including asking tough questions of Pete and I appreciated his candor and openness in answering them."
Defended or excusedCase context: Was Thom Tillis wrong to vote to confirm Pete Hegseth?
Read more
On the day of the vote, Tillis said he had committed to support nominees reported favorably by committee unless new material information emerged, and that after his own due diligence he would vote to confirm Hegseth.
Before the statement
The Armed Services Committee had advanced the nomination 14-13 on January 20, and senators had received Danielle Hegseth's affidavit on January 21. Fox News reported that Tillis's decision was not disclosed until minutes before he voted.
After the statement
The statement says "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 then voted yes, and Hegseth was confirmed after a tie-breaking vote from Vice President JD Vance.
Tillis Statement on Vote to Confirm Pete Hegseth as Secretary of Defense · Thom TillisFull press release, dated January 24, 2025Sen. Tillis opens up about role in Pete Hegseth's confirmation after Hegseth's ex-sister-in-law's allegations · Fox NewsFull articleSenate Armed Services Committee advances Pete Hegseth's nomination as defense secretary · Stars and StripesOpening paragraphsWhy this label?
Relative to Tillis's January 2025 vote to confirm Hegseth, this is his own case for casting it: he says he deferred to the committee's favorable report, did his own due diligence and found Hegseth candid. That argues the vote was justified. Tillis later reversed this position, which is recorded as a separate statement.
This label describes the statement's response within the context above.
Sources
(14)
Original text
U.S. Senate Roll Call Vote 15 (119th Congress, 1st session): Pete Hegseth confirmed as Secretary of Defense, 50-50 with the Vice President voting yea
Relevant passage: Vote 15, January 24, 2025, 8:57 p.m.; Tillis (R-NC) listed as Yea; tie broken by the Vice President
About this source
The official Senate tally of the vote on the nomination (PN11-7). The result reads Nomination Confirmed (50-50, Vice President of the United States, voted Yea). Republican Sens. Collins, McConnell and Murkowski voted nay.
- Published
- Accessed
Reporting
'The View' Host Ana Navarro Calls Out Thom Tillis to His Face About Voting for People He Regrets: 'You Keep Doing It!'
Relevant passage: Paragraphs quoting Navarro's exchange with Tillis on The View, October 5, 2026
About this source
TheWrap reported co-host Ana Navarro's on-air exchange with Tillis when he appeared on ABC's The View to promote his book.
- Author
- Andi Ortiz
- Published
- Accessed
Analysis
The most infuriating admission Thom Tillis made in his new book
Relevant passage: Full opinion column
About this source
An opinion column by the Charlotte Observer's deputy opinion editor on the first chapter of Tillis's book, titled My Biggest Regret. It quotes the book's account of why he voted yes.
- Author
- Paige Masten
- Published
- Accessed
Original post
Radley Balko on Bluesky: Tillis cast the deciding vote for Hegseth
Relevant passage: Complete post, linking an MS NOW article on Tillis's regret
About this source
Balko posted this after Tillis's regret over the vote was reported. The post refers to the woman Tillis spoke with before the vote as the woman Hegseth allegedly raped; the reporting identifies that person as Danielle Hegseth, his former sister-in-law.
- Author
- Radley Balko
- Published
- Accessed
Interview
Meet the Press - October 11, 2026
Relevant passage: Kristen Welker's interview with Sen. Thom Tillis, questions on the Hasan execution and the Hegseth vote
About this source
NBC News's transcript of the October 11, 2026 broadcast, in which moderator Kristen Welker asked Tillis about Hegseth and whether he regrets voting to confirm him.
- Author
- NBC News
- Published
- Accessed
Interview
60 Minutes Transcript: Sen. Thom Tillis
Relevant passage: Transcript passages on the book, the Hegseth vote and the Iran war
About this source
CBS News's transcript of the 60 Minutes segment that aired October 4, 2026. The narration says Tillis now calls his Hegseth vote his biggest regret and is calling for Hegseth to resign; those are the program's summaries, not Tillis's words.
- Author
- Ross Douthat and Graham Messick
- Published
- Accessed
Reporting
Tillis reveals 'biggest regret of my career' in new book on Trump 2.0
Relevant passage: Paragraphs on the Hegseth vote and the pressure campaign
About this source
The Washington Examiner reported on Tillis's book, including his account of the White House effort to secure his vote and a request from Vice President JD Vance that he vote yes as a personal favor.
- Author
- David Sivak
- Published
- Accessed
Reporting
Republican Sen. Tillis calls his vote for Hegseth the 'biggest regret of my career' in a new book
Relevant passage: Full Associated Press article as published by ABC News
About this source
The Associated Press reported from an advance copy of Tillis's book How to Lose Friends and Antagonize Presidents, published October 6, 2026.
- Author
- Mary Clare Jalonick
- Published
- Accessed
Reporting
GOP Sen. Thom Tillis says Hegseth is 'out of his depth' as defense secretary
Relevant passage: Paragraphs quoting Tillis's July 9, 2025 CNN interview
About this source
NBC News reported Tillis's remarks to CNN's Jake Tapper on July 9, 2025, including that he did not regret his vote based on what he knew at the time.
- Author
- Rebecca Shabad
- Published
- Accessed
Interview
Sen. Tillis opens up about role in Pete Hegseth's confirmation after Hegseth's ex-sister-in-law's allegations
Relevant passage: Full article
About this source
In an interview with Fox News Digital a week after the vote, Tillis described his call with Danielle Hegseth and said he could not find anyone to corroborate her account.
- Author
- Julia Johnson
- Published
- Accessed
Reporting
Tillis Assured Hegseth's Former Sister-in-Law
Relevant passage: Full post quoting The Wall Street Journal
About this source
Political Wire quotes a Wall Street Journal report that Tillis told Danielle Hegseth in a January 19, 2025 call, witnessed by two other people, that her sworn statement would carry weight and could move three Republican votes, including his own. The Journal's original article is behind a paywall.
- Author
- Taegan Goddard
- Published
- Accessed
Reporting
Senate Armed Services Committee advances Pete Hegseth's nomination as defense secretary
Relevant passage: Opening paragraphs
About this source
Stars and Stripes reported the committee's 14-13 vote to send the nomination to the Senate floor over Democratic objections, and the allegations Democrats cited against Hegseth: mismanagement of two veterans organizations, drinking at work and a 2017 sexual assault accusation.
- Author
- Svetlana Shkolnikova
- Published
- Accessed
Reporting
Senators receive affidavit containing new allegations against Pete Hegseth, who denies the claims
Relevant passage: Full article
About this source
NBC News reported the contents of Danielle Hegseth's affidavit, which it reviewed in redacted form, along with denials from Samantha Hegseth and from Pete Hegseth's lawyer. The affidavit says she was assured that her statement would lead undecided senators to vote against the nomination.
- Author
- Julie Tsirkin, Sarah Fitzpatrick and Courtney Kube
- Published
- Accessed
Official statement
Tillis Statement on Vote to Confirm Pete Hegseth as Secretary of Defense
Relevant passage: Full press release, dated January 24, 2025
About this source
Tillis's Senate office released this statement on the day of the confirmation vote. It sets out why he would vote yes.
- Author
- Thom Tillis
- Published
- Accessed
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- Title
- Was Thom Tillis wrong to vote to confirm Pete Hegseth?
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The Dispute Index. "Was Thom Tillis wrong to vote to confirm Pete Hegseth?". First published: 2026-10-13. Last updated: 2026-10-13. https://disputeindex.com/cases/was-thom-tillis-wrong-to-vote-to-confirm-pete-hegseth