Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) slammed Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and his “failed” leadership after Hegseth said the public will be able to watch the execution of the Fort Hood shooter, Nidal Hasan.

Tillis criticized Hegseth Sunday on NBC’s “Meet the Press” after moderator Kristen Welker asked him what he thinks the impact of televising the execution will be.

“It’s another example of where U.S. lives, American lives will be put at risk,” Tillis replied. “Terrorist organizations will use this as a recruiting tool. It will radicalize other people. And this is not who we are.”

Tillis argued that while the Fort Hood shooter “should be put to death,” there is “a way to deal with this that’s proper, and there’s a way to deal with this that’s more improper than I have ever observed in my life.”

Further discussing the livestream plan that has faced bipartisan pushback, the North Carolina senator reiterated his stance: “It’s another example of what Pete Hegseth and all of his bravado needs to get the hell out of the Department of Defense because he is a failed leader.”

“I do believe that is some of Pete Hegseth’s mismanagement ... he’s more responsible for increased energy prices than President Zelenskyy,” he continued. “We’ve got to get our act together in Iran.”

Welker asked the senator if he now regrets voting to confirm Hegseth after he previously defended his decision.

Most recently, Tillis in his new book, “How to Lose Friends and Antagonize Presidents,” released on Oct. 6, said that his deciding vote to confirm Hegseth in January 2025 is the “biggest regret of my career.”

“I dedicate a whole chapter to my biggest regret,” Tillis said. “I think it’s pretty clear that I regret that decision.”

“Look, I’ve got a track record of supporting presidents’ cabinet picks, dating all the way back to Obama. I do believe a president deserves as many of their picks as possible. ... I made a mistake. I’ve admitted that I made a mistake. And now I want to try and put somebody in place that will help the president’s legacy and make Americans safer. And that is not Pete Hegseth.”

Watch Tillis’ comments below.

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