
The Senate narrowly confirmed Pete Hegseth as Secretary of Defense on Friday night after Vice President JD Vance cast a tie-breaking vote. Hegseth’s confirmation was met with resistance, with all Democrats and three Republicans—Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Susan Collins (R-ME), and Mitch McConnell (R-KY)—opposing his nomination, resulting in a 51-50 final vote.
Hegseth, a former Army officer who served in Iraq and Afghanistan, faced scrutiny over past allegations of misconduct, including accusations of infidelity and excessive drinking. Murkowski cited these concerns as key reasons for her opposition, questioning his ability to lead the nation’s military. Hegseth denied the accusations, and his ex-wife refuted 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 controversy, Hegseth’s supporters, including Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC), highlighted his military experience and commitment to modernizing the armed forces. Tillis stated that after conducting his own evaluation, he found Hegseth’s plans for the Pentagon aligned with President Trump’s national defense goals.
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
Hegseth has pledged to focus on eliminating DEI initiatives within the military, arguing that such programs undermine combat effectiveness. His confirmation signals a shift toward policies aimed at reinforcing traditional military values and combat readiness.
— Pete Hegseth (@PeteHegseth) January 25, 2025
Following the vote, President Trump congratulated Hegseth on social media, calling him a “strong leader” who will restore focus to the armed forces.
🚨 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
The Senate confirmation process underscored deep divisions in Congress, with the unanimous approval of Secretary of State Marco Rubio earlier in the week highlighting the stark contrast in support between the two nominations.
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