Senate confirms Pete Hegseth as Trump’s defense secretary in 51-50 vote

Washington — The Senate narrowly confirmed Pete Hegseth as the following secretary of protection, approving President Trump’s choose to guide the Pentagon after a contentious battle over his nomination.

Hegseth was confirmed in a vote largely alongside social gathering strains, with 51 voting in favor and 50 towards. Three Republicans broke with their social gathering to oppose his nomination, forcing Vice President JD Vance to forged a tie-breaking vote. No less than 4 Republicans would have needed to vote towards Hegseth to sink his nomination. 

Hegseth’s nomination as soon as appeared on shaky floor amid allegations that included sexual misconduct and monetary mismanagement. However the former Fox News host struck a defiant tone as help for his affirmation gave the impression to be unsure and Mr. Trump stood behind his choose. 

Senate Republicans largely dismissed the allegations, together with these made in a sworn affidavit made by Hegseth’s former sister-in-law that got here to gentle this week. Within the affidavit to members of the Senate Armed Providers Committee, she alleged that Hegseth brought on his second spouse to concern for her private security and abused alcohol over the course of a few years. 

However they misplaced two Republican votes within the affirmation course of: Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Sen. Susan Collins of Maine. Murkowski said Thursday she was unable to help Hegseth’s nomination, citing the quite a few allegations and his earlier stance on girls in fight. 

“These behaviors starkly distinction the values and self-discipline anticipated of servicemembers. Women and men in uniform are held accountable for such actions, they usually deserve leaders who uphold these identical requirements,” she stated, additionally including that his “prior roles in his profession don’t exhibit to me that he’s ready for such immense accountability” of main the Protection Division. 

Shortly after, Collins made the same announcement. Collins stated she was involved Hegseth lacked the “expertise and perspective vital to achieve the job” and that she was “not satisfied that his place on girls serving in fight roles has modified.” 

Sen. Mitch McConnell, a Kentucky Republican, joined them Friday of their opposition, regardless of voting to advance his nomination a day earlier. McConnell walked onto the Senate flooring late Friday and gave a arms down movement as his identify was known as. 

“Mr. Hegseth has failed, as but, to exhibit that he’ll cross this check. However as he assumes workplace, the results of failure are as excessive as they’ve ever been,” McConnell stated in a prolonged and blistering assertion after his vote. 

Mr. Trump, who was in California surveying wildfire harm, stated he was unaware how McConnell voted, however praised Hegseth, saying he is “going to be an ideal secretary of protection.” 

Earlier than Vance forged the tie-breaker, he wrote, “I assumed I used to be carried out voting within the senate.” 

Throughout his contentious confirmation hearing final week, Democrats grilled Hegseth about an October 2017 sexual assault allegation, which he has repeatedly denied. 

In probably the most heated moments of the hourslong listening to, Democratic Sen. Tim Kaine of Virginia questioned Hegseth about his historical past of infidelity in his three marriages. 

“Are you able to so casually cheat on a second spouse?” Kaine stated, asking Hegseth concerning the timing of the allegation of sexual assault that Hegseth claims was a consensual encounter. 

“You have admitted that you just had intercourse at that lodge,” Kaine stated. “You stated it was consensual, is not that right? You have admitted it was consensual, and also you had been nonetheless married, and also you had simply had a toddler by one other lady. How do you clarify your judgment?”

Hegseth who prevented instantly answering the query additionally declined to reply Kaine’s query about whether or not it will be disqualifying if the encounter had been a sexual assault. 

Earlier within the listening to, Hegseth known as the allegations towards him a smear marketing campaign aimed toward destroying him. 

“I am not an ideal particular person,” Hegseth stated, however he stated he had been saved by “Jesus and Jenny,” his spouse, whom he married in 2019. Earlier this week, it was disclosed that he had paid his accuser a $50,000 settlement.

He additionally addressed his views on girls in fight, saying his earlier views that girls mustn’t serve in fight roles had been pushed by issues about “requirements.”

Hegseth, who served in Iraq and Afghanistan, joined Fox News in 2014 as a contributor and finally turned co-host of “Fox & Buddies Weekend.” He left his job on the community after Trump stated he meant to appoint him to guide the Division of Protection. 

contributed to this report.