Tillis criticizes Hegseth over military shakeup, warns of 'dangerous path'

WASHINGTON, DC: Republican Senator Thom Tillis, on Saturday, May 16, launched a blistering attack on Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth after reports emerged that the Pentagon may downgrade the command currently led by Christopher Donahue, the battle-tested general widely recognized as the last American service member to leave Afghanistan in 2021.

In an explosive post on X, Tillis accused Hegseth of putting politics above military merit.

Tillis accuses Hegseth of targeting warfighters

Tillis’ outburst came after reports suggested senior Pentagon officials have discussed replacing Donahue’s current four-star command role by downgrading US Army Europe-Africa to a three-star command, a move that could effectively sideline one of the Army’s most decorated combat leaders.

Tillis blasted the reported shakeup in brutal terms.

“The careless decision to reduce our force posture in Europe, along with moves by Pete Hegseth and his political henchmen to force out some of our finest general officers is amateur hour at best and deadly at worst,” Tillis wrote.

He then directly accused Hegseth of alienating allies and sidelining respected military professionals.

“Hegseth continues to surprise and disrespect our greatest allies and some of our best military professionals with impulsive decisions not grounded in reality or good judgment.”

“If the reports are true that Hegseth is trying to sideline General Chris Donahue, he is taking another step down a dangerous path.”

Tillis unloads on Hegseth’s advisers

Donahue is not just another general. He led elite airborne, ranger, mechanized, and special operations units across more than 20 deployments, including missions in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Sudan.

For many Americans, Donahue became the face of the end of the Afghanistan war after being photographed as the final US service member to board the last military flight out of Kabul.

Tillis made clear he sees any move against Donahue as an attack on merit itself.

“General Donahue has dedicated his entire career to upholding the high standards and warrior ethos that Hegseth claims he is restoring to our ranks.”

Then Tillis attacks Hegseth’s advisers. “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.”

He ended with a final piece of suggestion to Hegseth, saying, “Keep your word, Mr. Secretary: choose meritocracy over your mediocre yes-men.”