the senate confirmed pete hegseth In a dramatic vote late Friday night, he was sworn in as defense secretary, dismissing questions about his qualifications to lead the Pentagon. Suspected of heavy drinking and aggressive behavior against women.
Rarely has a cabinet nominee faced such widespread concerns about Hegseth’s experience and conduct, especially for such a high-profile role as a top U.S. military official. But the Republican-led Senate was determined to confirm Hegseth, a former Fox News host and military veteran who vowed to bring a “warrior culture” to the Pentagon, as the presidential nominee. donald trump’s Head of the National Security Cabinet.
Vice President J.D. Vance was on hand to cast the tie-breaking vote, an unusual move in the Senate for Cabinet nominees who typically enjoy broad support. Hegseth himself was at the Capitol with his family.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune As an Army National Guard veteran who served on tours in Iraq and Afghanistan, Hegseth “will bring a warrior’s perspective” to the military’s top job, he said.
“The days of waking up and being distracted are going to be over,” Thune said, referring to diversity, equity and inclusion efforts that are being cut across the federal government. “The Pentagon will focus on war.”
Whether the Senate can confirm Hegseth despite a series of serious allegations against him will be a measure of Trump’s political power and ability. gets what he wants from a Republican-led Congressand about the possibility that the culture wars will further his policies in the White House.
Next week, senators will face off against President Trump’s opponents. Options other than cabinet Notably, Kash Patel, a Trump ally who has published a list of enemies, is included as FBI director. Tulsi Gabbard as Director of National Intelligence. Robert F. Kennedy Jr., anti-vaccine advocate at the Department of Health and Human Services.
“Is Pete Hegseth really the best we have to offer?” said Sen. Jack Reed of Rhode Island, the top Democrat on the Senate Armed Services Committee, urging his colleagues to think seriously about their votes. urged.
Mr. Hegseth himself called late Friday to shore up his support, with his confirmation at stake.
“He’s a good person,” Trump said of Hegseth as he left the White House to visit disaster-hit North Carolina and Los Angeles. “I hope he succeeds.”
President Trump criticized Sens. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Susan Collins of Maine, who said they would vote against Hegseth. Tump then asked a new question about Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.): “And, of course, I think Mitch is always going to vote no. Is Mitch going to vote no?” said.
All three ultimately voted against Hegseth as tensions rose at the Capitol late Friday.
Mr. McConnell, the former Senate Republican leader, had not announced a vote, but in an earlier speech he declared that he would approve nominees for senior national security positions, saying their backgrounds and experience are “immediate assets rather than liabilities.” ”, expressing skepticism. He voted against it.
Hegseth’s confirmation would require a simple majority, and Republicans, who hold a 53-47 majority in the Senate, could lose one more negative vote.
The Senate was thrown into chaos as one Republican, Sen. Thom Tillis of North Carolina, raised questions and provided information and answers, a person familiar with the situation said Thursday, speaking on condition of anonymity.
But Tillis ultimately voted to confirm Hegseth, saying Hegseth “has a unique perspective” and is passionate about modernizing the military. He said he discussed his concerns with Hegseth for “nearly two hours.”
As a minority party, the Democratic Party helped confirm the Secretary of State. marco rubio and the Director of the CIA John Ratcliffe Within days of President Trump’s return to the White House, a bipartisan vote on his national security team was cast.
But Democrats, who fiercely oppose Mr. Hegseth, have little power to stop him, relying instead on prolonging the process.
Hours before the vote, Democratic senators gathered on the Senate floor to voice their opposition.
Sen. Chris Murphy of Connecticut said during the debate that there are few Trump nominees who are “as dangerously and woefully unqualified as Hegseth.”
Hegseth’s face Suspected of sexually assaulting a woman At a Republican conference in California, he denied the allegations and said the meeting was consensual. he later paid the woman $50,000.
Recently, Hegseth’s former sister-in-law stated in the affidavit He was said to have abused his second wife to the point that she feared for her safety. Hegseth denies the allegations, and neither he nor the woman alleges in the divorce suit that he was a victim of domestic violence.
inside intense confirmation Hegseth denied every accusation of wrongdoing during the hearing and vowed to bring a “warrior culture” to the Pentagon’s top post.
Hegseth promised not to drink on the job if confirmed.
But Republican senators, who are facing an intensive pressure campaign by Trump allies supporting Hegseth, echoed the claims of a “smear” campaign against Hegseth and backed his nomination. There is.
Hegseth, a Princeton and Harvard graduate, represents a new generation of veterans who came of age after the September 11, 2001 attacks. He began his career as a weekend host on Fox News but was unknown to many on Capitol Hill until President Trump tapped him for the top defense job.
Hegseth’s comments that women should not be involved in military combat sparked particular concern on Capitol Hill, including among members of Congress who have served in the military themselves. He later tempered those views in meetings with senators during the confirmation process.
In a lengthy statement ahead of the test vote against Hegseth, Mukavsky said Hegseth’s actions were in “a sharp contrast” to what is expected of the military.
“I remain concerned about the message Mr. Hegseth’s confirmation sends to women currently serving and aspiring to join,” Murkowski wrote on social media.
After a lengthy discussion with Mr. Hegseth, Collins said, “I am not convinced that Mr. Hegseth’s position on women serving in combat roles has changed.”
However, a prominent Republican, Sen. Joni Ernst (Iowa), herself a military veteran and sexual assault survivor, faced severe criticism for her skepticism toward Hegseth, and ultimately announced that it would support.
Mr. Hegseth will lead an organization with approximately 2.1 million military personnel, approximately 780,000 civilians, and a budget of $850 billion.
The Senate would exercise an advisory and consent role for Trump’s nominees, and Republican leaders would eliminate the confirmation process entirely and allow the president to appoint Cabinet nominees while Congress is in recess. trying to prevent it.
Trump raised the idea of so-called “recess appointments” in a closed-door meeting with Thune and House Speaker Mike Johnson at the White House, a step many senators are trying to avoid.
