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One of Donald Trump’s most controversial Cabinet names was narrowly confirmed by the US Senate as Pentagon chairman despite allegations of sexual assault and alcohol abuse.
Pete Hegseth will become US Secretary of Defense after the Senate voted 51-50 for him late Friday evening 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 attempt by Democrats to block his confirmation after his former sister-in-law, Danielle Hegseth, submitted an affidavit accusing him of being so abusive to his ex-wife that she hidden in a closet out of fear for their safety. She also claimed he had abused alcohol for years.
The former Fox News host is different from the typical defense secretary. His predecessor, Lloyd Austin, was a retired Army general who headed U.S. Central Command, which oversees military operations in the Middle East.
A vocal opponent of “wokeness,” Hegseth has vowed to restore a “warrior” culture to the U.S. military as the Trump administration seeks to dismantle the federal government’s diversity initiatives.
He also said one of his priorities will be securing the U.S.-Mexico border. The Pentagon said Wednesday it would deploy an additional 1,500 active-duty troops to the U.S. southern border under orders from the president, an increase of 60 percent.
McConnell said he voted against Hegseth because the nominee lacked the “strategic vision” to address the U.S.’s biggest national security challenges.
Hegseth “made no substantive comments about how to defend Taiwan or the Philippines” and “did not provide a detailed strategic vision for dealing” with China, McConnell said. The new defense secretary has also failed to prove that he can effectively lead the Pentagon.
On Thursday, Murkowski said she couldn’t vote for him.”with a clear conscience“, while Collins said she was “not convinced that its position toward women serving in combat roles has changed.”
Before the vote, Trump told reporters on Friday that he was “very surprised that Collins and Murkowski would do this,” adding that “Pete is a very, very good man.”
He also expected McConnell to hold back, too: “Of course, Mitch always votes ‘no,’ I think.”
Trump shocked Washington and defense circles when he chose Hegseth, who served in the Army National Guard, for the role. He has been ever since dogged by accusations of sexual assault, alcohol abuse, misogyny, sexism and racism.
Hegseth said in written answers 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 the sexual assault allegations, his character and his preparation for the top Pentagon job as a “smear campaign” in his Senate Confirmation hearing last week. He also sought to revise his previous statements about female soldiers, saying they had “access to ground combat operations as standards remain high.”
On air, Hegseth became known for denouncing diversity, equity and inclusive initiatives. DEI policy in the military is to “divide troops” and “force commanders to walk on eggshells,” Hegseth said at his confirmation hearing.
There could be more confirmation fireworks in the Senate when two more controversial Cabinet nominees, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Tulsi Gabbard, are examined by senators on January 29 and 30, respectively. Kennedy, both former Democrats, was nominated for Secretary of Health and Human Services and Gabbard for Director of National Intelligence.
