Associated Press
The Senate confirmed Pete Hegseth as the nation’s defense secretary late Friday in a dramatic tie-breaking vote, swatting back questions about his qualifications to lead the Pentagon amid allegations of heavy drinking and aggressive behavior toward women.
Rarely has a Cabinet nominee faced such wide-ranging concerns about his experience and behavior as Hegseth, particularly for such a high-profile role atop the U.S. military. But the Republican-led Senate was determined to confirm Hegseth, a former Fox News host and combat veteran who has vowed to bring a “warrior culture,” rounding out President Donald Trump’s top national security Cabinet officials.
Vice President JD Vance arrived to break the 50-50 tie, highly unusual for Cabinet nominees and particularly defense secretaries, who typically win wider bipartisan support. Hegseth himself was at the Capitol with his family.
“We have a great Secretary of Defense and we’re very happy,” Trump said as he boarded Air Force One after surveying fire devastation in California.
Trump said he didn’t care about the dissent from Sen. Mitch McConnell, the influential former Republican leader — who joined two other Republicans, Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Sen. Susan Collins of Maine, in voting against Hegseth — because the “important thing is winning.”
The Senate’s ability to confirm Hegseth despite a grave series of allegations against him provides a measure of Trump’s political power and ability to get what he wants from the GOP-led Congress, and of the potency of the culture wars to fuel his agenda at the White House.
Only once before has the Vice President had to break a tie on a Cabinet nominee — during Trump’s first term, when Vice President Mike Pence cast the vote to confirm Betsy DeVos as Education Secretary.
Next week senators will be facing Trump’s other outside Cabinet choices including particularly Kash Patel, a Trump ally who has published an enemies list, as the FBI director; Tulsi Gabbard as director of the office of national intelligence; and Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the anti-vaccine advocate, at Health and Human Services.
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Republished with permission of the Associated Press.
8 comments
Bill
January 25, 2025 at 9:13 am
Nothing but the finest people. A misogynist drunk with no experience in charge of the military – what could possibly go wrong?
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January 25, 2025 at 10:52 am
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ScienceBLVR
January 25, 2025 at 9:33 am
Can’t wait and wish I could be a fly on the wall when the experienced generals and real military personnel humiliate him by exposing his colossal lack of knowledge and inability to perform the duties of the job. Shame on the GOP members who are willing to sacrifice American interests to demonstrate their slavish devotion to Trump.
Peachy
January 25, 2025 at 10:00 am
I’m willing to bet big money that Hegseth has more military experience than you. Lloyd Austin did not do a good job. That Afghanistan withdrawal debacle will hang over his head for years. Hegseth brings youth. Something that has been missing in that position or years. I say give him a chance.
EARL PITTS AMERICAN
January 25, 2025 at 11:58 am
Thank you Peachy [FKA Rick Whittaker], great post of Sage Wisdom!!! Your The Best Bro, Earl.
And I’m so thankfull for my Sage Guidence which helped turn you from your previous Leftism into a Fine, Upstanding, Sage Patriot!!!
I just wish Mom was still with us to see how great you turned out to be Bro,
Earl Pitts American
Demetries Grimes, CDR USN Ret
January 25, 2025 at 4:45 pm
Pete Hegseth will be great for America and our military!
KatgrynA
January 25, 2025 at 10:12 pm
I sure would rather have Lloyd Austin and his experience and wisdom and caring for his country and troops.
Peachy
January 26, 2025 at 7:56 am
Except the 13 that were killed on the withdrawal. Now who was the idiot or idiots that planned the evacuation out of the main city airport and not Bagram AB?