The Senate confirmed Pete Hegseth because the nation's defense secretary on Friday in a dramatic late-night vote, deferring questions on his qualifications to guide the Pentagon amid Allegations of heavy drinking and aggressive behavior towards women.
Rarely does a Cabinet nominee have such broad concerns about his experience and behavior as Hegseth, particularly for such a high-profile role within the U.S. military. But the Republican-led Senate was determined to verify Hegseth, a former Fox News host and combat veteran who has vowed to bring a “warrior culture” to the Pentagon and round out the president Donald Trump's Top national security cabinet officials.
Vice President JD Vance was readily available to solid a tiebreaker vote, which was unusual within the Senate for Cabinet nominees who typically win broader support. Hegseth himself was within the Capitol along with his family.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune Hegseth said, as an Army National Guard veteran who served tours in Iraq and Afghanistan, “bringing a warrior's perspective” to the very best military job.
“Gone will be the days of woke distractions,” Thune said, referring to the range, equity and inclusion initiatives which were cut across the federal government. “The Pentagon's focus will be on warfighting.”
The Senate's ability to verify Hegseth despite a serious series of allegations against him Get what he wants from the GOP-led Congressand the effectiveness of the culture wars to fuel his agenda within the White House.
Next week, the senators will face Trump's others Selecting the outdoor cabinet particularly Kash Patel, a Trump ally who published an enemies list as FBI director. Tulsi Gabbard as Director of the Office of National Intelligence; and Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., the anti-Avaccine attorney at Health and Human Services.
“Is Pete Hegseth really the best we have to offer?” said Sen. Jack Reed of Rhode Island, the highest Democrat on the Senate Armed Services Committee, urging his colleagues to significantly consider their vote.
Hegseth himself was working the phones late Friday to shore up his support, his endorsement on the road.
“He's a good man,” Trump said of Hegseth as he leaves the White House to go to disaster-ridden North Carolina and Los Angeles. “I hope he does.”
Trump criticized Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Sen. Susan Collins of Maine, who said they might vote against Hegseth. And Tump raised recent questions on Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., saying: “And of course Mitch is always a no-vote, I think. Is Mitch a no-vote?”
In the top, all three voted against Hegseth as tensions rose on the Capitol late Friday.
McConnell, the previous Senate GOP leader, had not explained his vote but signaled skepticism in an earlier speech when he said he would confirm nominees for senior national security roles “whose record and experience will make them immediate assets, not one.” Liabilities.” He voted against.
It takes a simple majority to confirm Hegseth, and Republicans, with a 53-47 majority in the Senate, could only lose one more objection.
One Republican, Sen. Thom Tillis of North Carolina, dispatched the Senate as he asked questions and received information and answers, a person familiar with the situation said Thursday, granting anonymity to discuss it.
But Tillis ultimately voted to confirm Hegseth, who he said had “a novel perspective” and is passionate about modernizing the military. He said he spoke with Hegseth for “almost two hours” about his concerns.
The Democrats, as the minority party, helped confirm Secretary of State Marco Rubio and CIA director John Ratcliffe In bipartisan votes, Trump's national security team votes within days of his return to the White House.
But Democrats who are heavily opposed to Hegseth have little power to stop him and have instead singled out the trial.
Hours before the vote, the Democrat went to the Senate floor to object.
Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn.
Hegseth shows himself Allegations that he sexually assaulted a woman At a Republican conference in California, he denied the claims and said the encounter was consensual. He later paid the woman $50,000.
More recently, Hegseth's former sister-in-law said in an affidavit that he was abusive to his second wife to the point that she feared for her safety. Hegseth has denied the claim, and in the divorce proceedings neither Hegseth nor the woman claimed to be a victim of domestic abuse.
While a fiery confirmation Hegseth dismissed allegations of misconduct one after another and vowed to bring “warrior culture” to the top Pentagon post.
Hegseth has promised not to drink at work if confirmed.
But Republican senators, facing Trump allies with an intense pressure campaign to support Hegseth, have stood by his nomination and repeated his claims of a “smear” campaign against him.
Hegseth, a graduate of Princeton and Harvard, represents a newer generation of veterans who grew older after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks. He made a career at Fox News as a weekend show host and was unknown to many on Capitol Hill until Trump tapped him for the top defense job.
Hegseth's comments that women should have no role in military combat showed particular concern on Capitol Hill, including from lawmakers who served themselves. He has since tempered those views as he met with senators during the confirmation process.
Murkowski said in lengthy testimony before a test vote on Hegseth that his behavior was “strongly contrary” to what is expected of the military.
“I remain concerned concerning the message that Mr. Hegseth's confirmation sends to women currently serving and those that wish to affix,” Murkowski wrote on social media.
Collins said that after a lengthy discussion with Hegseth, “I’m not convinced that his position on women serving in combat roles has modified.”
But one prominent Republican, Sen. Joni Ernst of Iowa, herself a seasoned and sexual survivor, faced harsh criticism for her skepticism of Hegseth and eventually announced she would support him.
Hegseth would lead an organization with nearly 2.1 million service members, approximately 780,000 civilians and a budget of $850 billion.
In exercising its advisory and consent role over Trump's nominees, the Senate is also trying to block his proposal that GOP leaders can weigh in on the confirmation process overall and allow him to name his Cabinet picks when Congress is in recess.
Trump raised the idea of so-called “pause dates” during a non-public White House meeting with Thune and House Speaker Mike Johnson, a step many senators wish to avoid.
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