Top General’s Early Exit Shows Hegseth’s ‘Paranoia,’ Tillis Says

The Republican senator lends a fiery voice to bipartisan pushback over what lawmakers say is a disturbing trend of pushing out military leaders without explanation.

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“It’s just another example of Hegseth’s paranoia, where having people more capable than him around him is a problem,” said Sen. Thom Tillis (R-North Carolina). Francis Chung/POLITICO/AP

Republican Sen. Thom Tillis lambasted Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth over reports that the Pentagon chief is forcing the retirement of Gen. Christopher “C.D.” Donahue, calling the move an example of the Cabinet member’s “paranoia” and “inexperience.”

Tillis told NOTUS that pushing out one of the Army’s most celebrated and senior commanders would damage morale across the military. The North Carolina lawmaker suggested Hegseth — a former Fox News host who served in the National Guard — was uncomfortable with a straight-talking former commander of the Army’s elite Delta Force in his orbit.

“Honestly,” Tillis said in an interview, “Pete Hegseth couldn’t carry his bag.”