A North Carolina Republican senator has revealed in a new memoir that his pivotal vote to confirm a controversial defense secretary stands as his "biggest regret of his career," calling the decision a critical misstep. The senator also expressed second thoughts about his early support for another high-profile nomination during former President Donald Trump’s potential second term, admitting he should have taken a harder line against a figure later tied to policy controversies. The reflections highlight internal Republican divisions over executive branch appointments and the long-term consequences of legislative votes. The admissions come as political figures increasingly reflect on past decisions amid shifting party dynamics.
Republican Sen. Thom Tillis says in a new book that his deciding vote to confirm Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth in January 2025 is the "biggest regret of my career" and that he also "should've stopped" Robert F. Kennedy Jr. from becoming Health and Human Services secretary in the early days of President Donald Trump's second term.
