Pete Hegseth, the former co-host of Fox & Friends Weekend, will be the next secretary of defense, after he squeaked by Senate confirmation with Vice President JD Vance breaking a tie 50-50 vote.
It was an unusually close call for a cabinet nominee, reflecting concerns over Hegseth’s experience and allegations of sexual assault and heavy drinking. Hegseth has denied a number of claims, and said that a sexual encounter with a woman in 2017 was consensual.
Three Republicans — Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY), Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) and Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) — voted against his nomination, joining with all Democrats. Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC) did not announce his decision on the Hegseth nomination until this evening, when he said that he would vote in favor of it.
Tillis wrote on X, “Pete has a unique perspective as a veteran of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and is unquestionably passionate about modernizing our military and supporting the brave patriots like himself who serve our nation. I will support his confirmation and look forward to working with him to rebuild our military and advance President Trump’s peace through strength agenda.”
“I thought I was done voting in the Senate,” Vance posted on X before breaking the tie.
Hegseth, a combat veteran, was Trump’s surprise choice to fill the role, in which he will oversee one of the world’s largest bureaucracies. He said that his experience gave him a unique perspective to focus on improving the readiness of the armed forces.
But GOP holdouts had major reservations. Murkowski and Collins pointed to Hegseth’s past comments about women serving in combat roles.
In a statement, McConnell said, “Effective management of nearly 3 million military and civilian personnel, an annual budget of nearly $1 trillion, and alliances and partnerships around the world is a daily test with staggering consequences for the security of the American people and our global interests.
“Mr. Hegseth has failed, as yet, to demonstrate that he will pass this test. But as he assumes office, the consequences of failure are as high as they have ever been.”
McConnell added, “The United States faces coordinated aggression from adversaries bent on shattering the order underpinning American security and prosperity. In public comments and testimony before the Armed Services Committee, Mr. Hegseth did not reckon with this reality.”
The narrow vote could signal turbulence ahead for other Trump nominees, including Tulsi Gabbard, his pick to serve as director of national intelligence, and Robert Kennedy Jr., selected to serve as secretary of health and human services.
Trump, departing Los Angeles this evening, said that he didn’t know about McConnell’s no vote. “I just know that we won.”
