WASHINGTON — The Republican-controlled Senate on Friday night voted to confirm former Fox News host Pete Hegseth as defense secretary with Vice President JD Vance casting a tie-breaking vote and giving the Republicans the win.
Sens. Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Susan Collins of Maine — joined all 47 Democrats in voting to not confirm Hegseth.
The vote caps off weeks of uncertainty over the fate of Trump’s controversial pick to lead the Pentagon. This is just the second time a Vice President has voted to be the tie-breaking vote since Betsy DeVos as Education secretary in Trump’s first term.
“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,” McConnell said in a scathing statement.
“Mr. Hegseth has failed, as yet, to demonstrate that he will pass this test,” McConnell’s statement continued. “But as he assumes office, the consequences of failure are as high as they have ever been.”
Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) announced on X that he would vote in favor of Hegseth, giving him the votes he needed for confirmation.
“Once Pete Hegseth’s nomination was sent to the floor by my colleagues on the Senate Armed Services Committee, I conducted my own due diligence, including asking tough questions of Pete and I appreciated his candor and openness in answering them,” Tillis said in his statement.
“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,” he added.
Hegseth’s confirmation was on the verge of collapse just weeks ago after several Republican senators were concerned over allegations of drinking and reports of mistreatment of women.
The New Yorker published a story about a 2015 whistleblower’s report from a veterans’ organization Hegseth ran, which claimed he was repeatedly intoxicated on the job.
Earlier this week, NBC News reported that a former sister-in-law of Hegseth’s had said in a sworn affidavit, shared with senators, that he had demonstrated “erratic and aggressive behavior over many years” and had made his ex-wife, Samantha Hegseth, “fear for her safety” while they were married.
