
Pete Hegseth has been confirmed as Secretary of Defense following a closely contested Senate vote, with Vice President JD Vance casting the deciding vote after the chamber was deadlocked at 50-50. The confirmation, finalized late Friday, faced resistance from Senate Democrats and Republican Senators Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Susan Collins (R-ME), and Mitch McConnell (R-KY), all of whom voted against Hegseth.
Throughout the confirmation process, Hegseth’s personal life and qualifications were heavily scrutinized. Critics raised concerns over allegations of past misconduct, including infidelity and excessive drinking. Sen. Murkowski cited these issues, arguing they reflected poorly on his suitability for the high-level position. Hegseth denied all accusations, with his former wife publicly refuting claims of abuse.
🚨BREAKING: President Trump just reacted to Pete Hegseth becoming the next Secretary of Defense:
"I'm honored to have Pete. I think Pete's gonna be a great Secretary of Defense and we're honored to have him."
pic.twitter.com/1FkvwuVTGx— Bo Loudon (@BoLoudon) January 25, 2025
Despite the opposition, Hegseth received key support from Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC), who initially hesitated but later backed the nominee after reviewing his military background. Tillis emphasized Hegseth’s firsthand experience in combat and his dedication to rebuilding the military.
Thank you for your confidence Mr. President.
Thank you for the tie-breaker Mr. Vice President.
Thank you Senators for 50 votes.
This is for the troops. For the warriors. For our country.
America First. Every day. We will never back down. 🇺🇸
— Pete Hegseth (@PeteHegseth) January 25, 2025
Following the confirmation, President Donald Trump praised Hegseth’s appointment, stating that he would focus on strengthening the military and removing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) policies that Trump argues have weakened the armed forces. Hegseth has promised to prioritize military readiness over social initiatives.
— Pete Hegseth (@PeteHegseth) January 25, 2025
In contrast to the contentious battle over Hegseth’s nomination, Secretary of State Marco Rubio was confirmed earlier in the week with a unanimous 99-0 vote, highlighting the sharp division over Trump’s defense pick.
🚨 WTF? Mitch McConnell immediately walked over and CELEBRATED with the Democrats after voting against Hegseth
This man HAS TO GO in 2026.
The people of Kentucky voted for Trump’s mandate—not this anti-Trump BS. pic.twitter.com/bfFZtayx51
— Nick Sortor (@nicksortor) January 25, 2025
With Hegseth now in charge at the Pentagon, the administration is expected to implement further changes, including the reassignment of top military officials who have been supportive of DEI initiatives.
Come primary season, let us all remember that Senators Susan Collins & Lisa Murkowski voted for this, while opposing Pete Hegseth:
pic.twitter.com/UqPUnRybLU— Jillian Anderson (@Jillie_Alexis) January 24, 2025
Pray for Pete Hegseth to serve as our next Secretary of Defense. 🙏 pic.twitter.com/VVH9V9gOMK
— CatholicVote (@CatholicVote) January 14, 2025