<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Senator Thom Tillis (R-NC) is concluding his time in the Senate with reflections on his career, stating in a new book that his "biggest regret of my career" was his vote to confirm War Secretary Pete Hegseth.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">In <em>How to Lose Friends and Antagonize Presidents</em>, Tillis discusses his initial concerns regarding President Donald Trump’s Cabinet, specifically naming Hegseth, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., and Tulsi Gabbard as nominees he wished he had opposed.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Tillis describes the internal conflict he faced before Hegseth’s confirmation, noting that he spent time searching for evidence to challenge Hegseth’s nomination, which was marred by accusations of heavy drinking and domestic abuse.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Regarding Kennedy, a known vaccine skeptic, Tillis mentioned that he told colleagues on the Senate’s health panel he would vote "no" if they provided a valid reason.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Ultimately, Tillis expressed that he did not want to be the "lone voice in the wilderness" after a lack of significant GOP opposition, leading him to vote for all of Trump’s Cabinet nominees, including being the deciding vote for Hegseth.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Nearly two years later, as he approaches retirement, Tillis believes the actions of those Cabinet officials have validated his initial concerns, stating he should have opposed their nominations.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Tillis noted, "I know for a fact that there are others like me: Republicans who agreed to go along with the early demands of the Trump team no matter how ridiculous they were, believing that failing to do so would mean the end of their political career, and who now see that things have gone way too far." The book is scheduled for release on Tuesday.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">He has scrutinized Hegseth’s conduct and previously called for his removal over personnel decisions, but this book marks the first time he has labeled his vote as a mistake.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Tillis's relationship with Trump has been complex, oscillating between support and criticism. He faced pressure from various individuals, including a call from Donald Trump Jr. and a visit to the White House, to support Hegseth's nomination.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Vice President JD Vance requested that he vote for Hegseth as a "personal favor," attempting to persuade him with a Situation Room briefing and a phone call with Trump.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Throughout the book, Tillis refrains from directly criticizing Trump, instead attributing the tumult of his second term to advisers. He describes Kristi Noem, Trump’s first homeland security chief, as a "psychopathic" dog-killer and her deputy, Greg Bovino, as a "thug."</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">He expresses disdain for "MAGA extremists" like Laura Loomer and Steve Bannon, and describes top Trump adviser Stephen Miller in negative terms.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Tillis shares insights into his most intense moments with Trump, including a text message in which he expressed frustration over Trump’s social media comments about him.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">In a text to Trump regarding his retirement, Tillis noted that it would be a good time for Trump to seek his replacement, to which Trump responded, "I am!"</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Tillis acknowledged that his obituary might focus on moments of disagreement with Trump.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">In his final months, Tillis has also worked to influence the Justice Department regarding investigations into former Fed Chairman Jerome Powell and has expressed candid views.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">He reflects on his political career, which spans two decades, and links it to the challenges of the Trump administration.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Tillis predicts electoral challenges for Republicans in the upcoming November elections, drawing parallels to the red wave that aided his rise to the speakership in the North Carolina statehouse in 2010, attributing these challenges to presidential overreach by both Obama and Trump.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">He stated, "We could have stood firm on opposing the nominations on some of the president’s less-than-stellar cabinet appointees, saving the nation a great deal of turmoil. Instead, we have chosen the proverbial chainsaw shed time and time again, kowtowing to the White House’s every demand even when we know the end result is going to be a bloodbath."</p>