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One of Donald Trump’s most controversial ministerial choices was narrowly confirmed by the US Senate to head the Pentagon, despite allegations of sexual assault and alcohol abuse.
Pete Hegseth will become US Secretary of Defense after the Senate voted 51-50 in his favor on Friday night, after Vice President JD Vance broke a tie.
Republican Senators Mitch McConnell, Lisa Murkowski and Susan Collins joined Democrats in voting against Hegseth’s confirmation.
Hegseth survived a last-ditch effort by Democrats to block his confirmation after his former sister-in-law, Danielle Hegseth, gave a sworn statement accusing him of being so violent toward his ex-wife that she hidden in a closet out of fear for his safety. She also alleged that he had abused alcohol for years.
The former Fox News host deviates from the typical defense secretary. His predecessor, Lloyd Austin, was a retired Army general who oversaw U.S. Central Command, which encompasses military operations in the Middle East.
A staunch opponent of “wokeness,” Hegseth has vowed to bring back a “warrior” culture to the U.S. military as the Trump administration moves to roll back the federal government’s diversity initiatives.
He also said one of his priorities would be securing the U.S.-Mexico border. The Pentagon announced Wednesday that it would send an additional 1,500 active-duty troops to the U.S. southern border, a 60 percent increase, at the president’s orders.
McConnell said he voted against Hegseth because the nominee lacked the “strategic vision” for how to address America’s biggest national security challenges.
Hegseth “provided no substantive observations on how to defend Taiwan or the Philippines” and did not “articulate in detail a strategic vision for dealing” with China, McConnell said. The new Secretary of Defense has also failed to demonstrate that he can effectively manage the Pentagon.
On Thursday, Murkowski said she couldn’t vote for him.”in good conscience“, while Collins said she was “not convinced that its stance on women serving in combat roles has changed.”
Before the vote, Trump told reporters Friday that he “was very surprised that Collins and Murkowski would do this,” adding that “Pete is a very, very good man.”
He also predicted that McConnell would also resist: “Of course, Mitch is still a ‘no’ vote, I guess.”
Asset shocked Washington and defense circles when he chose Hegseth, who served in the Army National Guard, for the role. He has since harassed by allegations sexual assault, alcohol abuse, misogyny, sexism and racism.
Hegseth said in his written responses to questions that he had paid $50,000 to the woman who accused him of sexual assault in a California hotel room in 2017, according to Senator Elizabeth Warren.
Hegseth dismissed the allegations about sexual assault, his character and his preparation for the Pentagon’s top job, calling them a “smear campaign” in the Senate. confirmation hearing last week. He also attempted to revise his previous statements on female soldiers, saying they “would have access to ground combat roles, given that standards remain high.”
On-air, Hegseth became known for speaking out against diversity, equity and inclusive initiatives. DEI policies in the military were “dividing the troops” and forcing “commanders to walk on eggshells,” Hegseth said during his hearing.
More Senate confirmation fireworks could come when two other controversial Cabinet nominees, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Tulsi Gabbard, are grilled by senators on Jan. 29 and 30, respectively. Both ex-Democrats, Kennedy was named secretary of health and Gabbard director of national intelligence.
