Thom Tillis Warns Pete Hegseth Against Ousting Another Top US General
Republican Senator Thom Tillis of North Carolina has issued a warning to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth over reports that he plans to sideline another top general.
Hegseth has carried out a significant overhaul of military command since he took over at the Pentagon, totaling a dozen senior military officers as of last month. Republican lawmakers have increasingly spoken out about the radical and wholesale changes taking place under Hegseth’s tenure, adding rare intraparty friction to an administration that is already facing pressures from many quarters.
Tillis, who is retiring after his tenure in the Senate ends in January 2027, posted a lengthy statement on X, warning that Hegseth continues to “disrespect our greatest allies and some of our best military professionals with impulsive decisions not grounded in reality or good judgment.”
“If the rumors are true that Hegseth is trying to sideline General Chris Donahue, one of our nation's finest warfighters, by downgrading U.S. Army Europe-Africa to a 3-star command, he is taking another step down a dangerous path,” Tillis wrote, calling it “a step that is not in the best interests of our nation or our servicemembers.”
“Hegseth would do well to surround himself with more patriots like General Donahue and to get his henchmen, who are not qualified to carry Donahue’s bag, out of the Pentagon,” Tillis wrote. “Keep your word, Mr. Secretary: choose meritocracy over your mediocre yes-men.”
Newsweek reached out to the Pentagon by email on Saturday afternoon for comment.
Who Is General Chris Donahue?
General Christopher Donahue is a senior United States Army officer who has held a series of high‑level command roles and is most widely known for his role in the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan. He gained public prominence for being the last U.S. service member to leave Afghanistan, boarding the final military aircraft on August 30, 2021, as American forces ended their 20‑year presence in the country.
His achievements include:
- commander of the 82nd Airborne Division, leading troops in the final phase of the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021
- oversaw forces securing Kabul's airport as part of the evacuation of U.S. personnel and Afghan civilians
- led U.S. troops deployed to Eastern Europe amid rising tensions over Ukraine, highlighting his role in broader NATO-related operations
Tillis named Donahue as a military officer who has “dedicated his entire career to upholding the high standards and warrior ethos that Hegseth claims he is restoring to our ranks.”
“[Donahue] deployed over 20 times in support of Iraqi Freedom, Enduring Freedom, New Dawn, Inherent Resolve, Atlantic Resolve, Freedom's Sentinel, European Assure, Deter and Reinforce, and in support of the Sudan crisis,” Tillis wrote.
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This story was originally published May 16, 2026 at 6:30 PM.