Republican senator urges Trump to sack Defence Secretary Hegseth

US Republican Senator Thom Tillis has urged President Donald Trump to remove Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, accusing him of creating a "leadership void" across the US military as the war with Iran continues.

Tillis, a Republican from North Carolina, launched a sharp attack on Hegseth in a social media post on Wednesday, arguing that the Pentagon chief had failed to make effective use of experienced military leaders.

The senator contrasted Hegseth's leadership with that of former Army Secretary Dan Driscoll, who resigned on Monday following reported disagreements with the Defence Secretary.

"I have never witnessed more inept management of the brave men and women who serve our country," Tillis wrote, accusing Hegseth of being threatened by capable officials and of focusing too heavily on cultural disputes instead of national defence.

Tillis called on Trump to appoint a new Pentagon leader who would support and empower experienced military personnel rather than push them aside.

"I urge the President to find a new leader at the Pentagon who will retain and empower our military talent rather than diminish it," he said.

The criticism marks a significant break with Tillis's earlier position. He was among the senators who voted to confirm Hegseth as defence secretary at the beginning of Trump's second presidential term, although he waited until the final stage of the Senate process to make his support clear.

Hegseth, a military veteran and former television host, entered office amid controversy over his previous conduct and professional record. Since becoming defence secretary, he has introduced a series of contentious changes across the Pentagon.

His administration has sought to reduce what he describes as "wokeness" within the armed forces, while also pursuing changes involving transgender service members, military promotions and admissions standards at leading military academies.

Hegseth has also faced criticism over restrictions placed on journalists covering the Defence Department.

Tillis argued that the Pentagon should be concentrating more heavily on adapting the US military to rapidly changing forms of warfare rather than becoming consumed by domestic cultural disputes.

He cited lessons emerging from Russia's war in Ukraine and the ongoing US-Israeli conflict with Iran as evidence that traditional approaches to military planning are being challenged.

According to Tillis, Driscoll understood that the military needed to adapt to a changing battlefield.

The senator also suggested that Hegseth's management style had contributed to the loss of experienced military personnel, arguing that a more forward-looking defence secretary would have fought to retain senior leaders such as Driscoll.

Instead, Tillis said, Hegseth was contributing to a growing shortage of experienced leadership at the highest levels of the armed forces.

Hegseth has come under increasing scrutiny as the United States continues its prolonged military campaign against Iran. The conflict, which began on February 28, has now passed its six-month mark without a clear resolution.

Reports have also raised concerns about pressure on US weapons and ammunition supplies as the war continues, potentially limiting Washington's ability to respond to future military challenges.

The conflict has meanwhile damaged support for the Trump administration, with rising fuel prices and the wider spread of fighting across the Middle East adding to domestic concerns.

A University of Massachusetts poll released on August 31 found that more than two-thirds of Americans disapproved of the administration's handling of the war.

With congressional midterm elections approaching in November, the growing political pressure could further intensify scrutiny of Trump's national security team and Hegseth's leadership at the Pentagon.