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One of the most debated choices from Donald Trump’s cabinet selections has been confirmed by the US Senate to lead the Department of Defense, despite facing sexual assault and alcohol abuse accusations.
After a tense vote late on Friday, Pete Hegseth snagged the position of US Secretary of Defense with a razor-thin Senate vote of 51-50, clinched by Vice President JD Vance breaking the tie.
Republicans like Mitch McConnell, Lisa Murkowski, and Susan Collins joined Democrats in their opposition to Hegseth’s appointment.
Hegseth’s confirmation came despite a late attempt by Democrats to block it, spurred by a sworn statement from his former sister-in-law, Danielle Hegseth. She accused him of such severe abuse towards his ex-wife that she had to hide in a closet for safety. Additionally, she claimed he had long battled alcohol issues.
Hailing from a non-traditional background for a defense secretary, Hegseth, once a Fox News personality, is a shift from his predecessor, Lloyd Austin, a retired army general with past command over US Central Command operations in the Middle East.
Outspoken against “wokeness,” Hegseth has pledged to instill a “warrior” ethos back into the US military as the Trump administration aims to scrap federal diversity initiatives.
He also stated that securing the US-Mexico border ranks high on his agenda. On Wednesday, the Pentagon announced it would deploy an additional 1,500 active-duty troops to the southern border of the US, marking a 60% boost as directed by the president.
McConnell explained his vote against Hegseth, criticizing the nominee’s lack of “strategic vision” for confronting America’s paramount national security threats.
According to McConnell, Hegseth “offered no meaningful insights into defending Taiwan or the Philippines,” and failed to “articulate a detailed strategic approach toward China.” Additionally, Hegseth seemed unprepared to manage the Pentagon effectively.
On Thursday, Murkowski expressed that her conscience couldn’t permit her to support him, while Collins noted she wasn’t convinced about Hegseth’s stance on women in combat roles evolving.
Ahead of the Senate’s decision, Trump expressed surprise that Collins and Murkowski opposed Hegseth, describing him as “a very, very good man.” Anticipating McConnell’s opposition too, Trump remarked, “Mitch is always a ‘no’ vote, I guess.”
Trump raised eyebrows across Washington’s defense community by choosing Hegseth, who had served in the Army National Guard. Since then, Hegseth has been beset by allegations of sexual assault, alcohol abuse, and accusations of misogyny, sexism, and racism.
In written responses to questions, Hegseth disclosed paying $50,000 to a woman who accused him of sexual assault at a California hotel in 2017, revealed Senator Elizabeth Warren.
He categorically rejected allegations regarding the sexual assault, his character, and his suitability for the Pentagon role as part of “a smear campaign” during his Senate confirmation hearing. Hegseth also attempted to amend his previous comments on women soldiers, asserting they would have “access to ground combat roles, assuming standards remain high.”
Known for vocally opposing diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives, Hegseth argued at his hearing that DEI policies in the military weren’t just divisive but also forced “commanders to walk on eggshells.”
The Senate can expect more heated debates as two other controversial cabinet candidates, Robert F Kennedy Jr and Tulsi Gabbard, face scrutiny on January 29 and 30, respectively. Both former Democrats, Kennedy is nominated for Health Secretary, and Gabbard for Director of National Intelligence.
