One of Donald Trump’s most contentious cabinet selections has been narrowly approved by the US Senate to lead the Pentagon, despite serious allegations against him. Pete Hegseth has been confirmed as the US Secretary of Defense following a close Senate vote of 51-50, with Vice President JD Vance casting the tie-breaking vote.
Several Republican senators, including Mitch McConnell, Lisa Murkowski, and Susan Collins, voted against Hegseth’s confirmation. This decision came after his former sister-in-law, Danielle Hegseth, publicly accused him of being abusive towards his ex-wife, claiming she sought refuge in a closet out of fear for her safety. She also alleged his long-term struggles with alcohol abuse.
A former host on Fox News, Hegseth represents a shift from the traditional profile of a defense secretary. His predecessor, Lloyd Austin, was a retired Army general with experience in overseeing military operations in the Middle East.
Hegseth has been outspoken against “wokeness” and aims to restore a “warrior” culture within the military, coinciding with the Trump administration’s efforts to eliminate federal diversity initiatives. He stated that one of his key objectives will be to enhance security along the US-Mexico border. In a related move, the Pentagon announced plans to deploy an additional 1,500 active-duty troops to the southern border, marking a 60% increase based on the president’s direction.
McConnell expressed his opposition to Hegseth, citing concerns about the nominee’s strategic vision for addressing the nation’s most pressing security challenges. He noted that Hegseth did not sufficiently outline strategies for defending Taiwan or the Philippines and failed to demonstrate effective management capabilities for the Pentagon.
Murkowski mentioned she could not support Hegseth “in good conscience,” while Collins indicated she was “not convinced” regarding Hegseth’s stance on women in combat roles.
Prior to the vote, Trump commented on the situation, expressing surprise that Collins and Murkowski would vote against Hegseth, whom he described as a “very good man.” He also anticipated McConnell’s vote against Hegseth, remarking, “Of course, Mitch is always a ‘no’ vote.”
Hegseth’s nomination was unexpected given ongoing allegations that have included sexual assault, alcohol abuse, and other serious misconduct. He has reportedly acknowledged paying $50,000 to a woman who accused him of sexual assault in 2017. During his Senate confirmation hearing, Hegseth labeled the allegations against him as a “smear campaign” and attempted to clarify his previous remarks regarding women in military roles, asserting they would have access to combat positions as long as standards remain high.
On his show, Hegseth criticized diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies, arguing that such initiatives were causing divisions among troops and that commanders felt inhibited in their duties.
Additional controversial cabinet nominations may arise as Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Tulsi Gabbard are set to appear before senators on January 29 and January 30, respectively. Kennedy has been nominated for secretary of health and Gabbard for director of national intelligence.
photo credit: www.ft.com
