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One of Donald Trump’s most controversial Cabinet picks has been 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, squeaking after Vice President JD Vance broke the 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 prevent his confirmation after his former sister-in-law, Danielle Hegseth, gave a sworn statement accusing him of being so abusive to his ex-wife that she hid in a closet out of fear for her safety. He also alleged that he had abused alcohol for years.
The former Fox News host is a departure from the typical defense secretary. His predecessor, Lloyd Austin, was a retired Army general who oversaw U.S. Central Command, which covers military operations in the Middle East.
Hegseth, a vocal opponent of “Wokeness,” has vowed to bring a “warrior” culture to the U.S. military as the Trump administration moves to eliminate diversity initiatives from the federal government.
He also said that one of his priorities will be securing the border between the United States and Mexico. The Pentagon said Wednesday it would send an additional 1,500 active-duty troops to the United States’ southern border, a 60 percent increase, based on the president’s orders.
McConnell said he voted against Hegseth because the nominee lacks the “strategic vision” for how to address the United States’ biggest national security challenges.
Hegseth “did not provide 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 incoming Defense Secretary also failed to demonstrate that he can manage the Pentagon effectively.
On Thursday, Murkowski said she couldn’t vote for him.”in good conscience“While Collins said it was”not convinced that their position on women serving in combat roles has changed.”
Before the vote, Trump told reporters Friday that he “was very surprised that Collins and Murkowski did that,” adding that “Pete is a very, very good man.”
He also anticipated that McConnell would also be a position: “Of course, Mitch is always a ‘no’ vote, I guess.”
Trump surprised Washington and defense circles when he selected Hegseth, who served in the Army National Guard, for the role. Since then, he has been dogged by accusations of sexual assault, alcohol abuse, misogyny, sexism and racism.
Hegseth said in written responses to questions that he 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 allegations about sexual assault, his character and preparation for top Pentagon work as “a smear campaign” at his Senate confirmation hearing last week. He also sought to revise his previous statements about female soldiers, saying they “would have access to ground combat roles, given the standards remain high.”
On air, Hegseth became known for speaking out against diversity, equity and inclusive initiatives. DEI policies in the military were “dividing troops” and forcing “commanders to walk on eggshells,” Hegseth said at his hearing.
More Senate confirmation fireworks could come as two more contentious Cabinet nominees, Robert F Kennedy Jr and Tulsi Gabbard, are grilled by senators on January 29 and January 30, respectively. Both former Democrats, Kennedy has been tapped for Secretary of Health and Gabbard for Director of National Intelligence.
