'Makes Kristi Noem Look Like a Five-Star Recruit': Sen. Thom Tillis Trashes Pete Hegseth Over Collapsing Iran Policy

Republican Senator Thom Tillis of North Carolina recently criticized Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and compared the latter to Kristi Noem, who was ousted from her role as the Homeland Security secretary earlier this year.

Tillis spoke on CNN’s State of the Union, complaining about how Hegseth is handling the conflict with Iran and questioning the administration's plans for a peace deal.

He said that the Pentagon changed its story about Iran's nuclear weapons, noting that Hegseth previously claimed the U.S. military had crushed Iran's defenses and would easily control the peace terms.

Since the government is now changing its plan, Tillis expressed his doubts regarding the same.

He said, "We were told about 11 weeks ago, by Hegseth and the Department of Defense, that they had obliterated Iran's defenses and it was just a matter of time before we had the nuclear material. Now we're talking about a posture where we may accept the nuclear material remaining in Iran. How does that make sense at all?"

The retiring Republican senator then took a direct jab at the defense secretary's performance.

He stated, "When you see these mistakes made by Hegseth... With all of these mistakes in total, it's beginning to make Kristi Noem look like a five-star recruit."

Tillis' comparison of Hegseth with Noem is a significant development because the senator has had a history of feud with the former Homeland Security chief.

Previously, during a tense Senate hearing, Tillis strongly attacked Noem's leadership, focusing on major mistakes in her department and controversial domestic security operations.

He confronted Noem directly during the hearing and said, "What we've seen is a disaster under your leadership, Ms. Noem, a disaster. What we've seen is innocent people getting detained that turn out are American citizens."

After the meeting, Tillis became one of the most vocal Republicans to ask for Noem's resignation.

Tillis' words upset President Donald Trump, who then lashed out against the senator on Truth Social.

Trump ignored Tillis’ complaints, instead making fun of his plan to retire and calling him a weak politician who is too afraid to run for office again.

In his post, Trump wrote, "People don't remember that Thom Tillis, the weak and ineffective Senator from the Great State of North Carolina, a State I won, including primaries, 6 consecutive times, didn't have the courage to fight it out in the Senate, remain in place, and run again for office, a thing he desperately wanted to do. I called him a 'Nitpicker,' always fighting against the Republican Party, and ME, mostly on things that didn't matter."

"The media said how brave he was to take me on, but he wasn't brave, he was just the opposite - HE WAS A QUITTER! Now he can have all the fun he wants for a few months, with some of his RINO friends, sc---ing the Republican Party," Trump added.