Newly-confirmed Protection Secretary Pete Hegseth acquired sturdy reward from President Trump and different Republicans following a nail-biting Senate vote Friday night time that may see him take command of the Pentagon.
“Congratulations to Pete Hegseth,” Trump wrote on Fact Social after the Senate voted 51-50 to make the Military veteran and former Fox Information host the chief of the nation’s armed forces.
“He’ll make an awesome Secretary of Protection!”
Three Republican senators – Susan Collins of Maine, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Mitch McConnell of Kentucky – joined all 47 Democrats to oppose Trump’s nominee, forcing Vice President JD Vance to forged the tie-breaking vote.
“I believed I used to be achieved voting within the senate,” Vance quipped on X with a tears of pleasure emoji.
Hegseth, a retired Military main and fierce critic of “woke” navy initiatives, was among the many most controversial of Trump’s cupboard appointments as a result of allegations of private misconduct – together with sexual assault, monetary mismanagement and binge-drinking on the job.
The 44-year-old additionally drew ire from Democratic officers concerning previous statements he’s made about ladies serving within the navy, publicly declaring after the November election that ladies shouldn’t serve in fight roles.
Regardless of the criticism, the vast majority of Republicans stood behind him.
Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) mentioned he was “very happy” to see Hegseth confirmed and appears ahead to working with him to “make America sturdy and safe as soon as once more.”
“Pete has served within the Military Nationwide Guard as a entrance line officer, and he has a eager mind and a ardour for the warfighter,” Graham posted on social media.
“He did a superb job throughout a really contentious listening to and withstood all of the assaults that got here his approach. He’s bullish on creating a bigger, extra deadly navy and is clear-eyed about America’s enemies, together with Iran. Israel may have no higher pal than Pete Hegesth.”
Sen. Katie Britt (R-Alabama) celebrated the affirmation on the social media platform, stating that she is trying ahead to working with Hegseth to “restore peace via power” to help the nation’s service members.
“Congrats Mr. Secretary,” Republican Whip John Thune (R-South Dakota) posted on X with an American flag emoji and photographs of him hugging Hegseth.
“Tonight, I used to be proud to vote to substantiate Pete Hegseth as Secretary of Protection,” Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) posted to X.
“He’s the change agent that the DOD desperately wants. Let’s go to work.”
Donald Trump’s son, Donald Jr., and Megyn Kelly additionally commemorated the affirmation, with each lauding the supporting vote as an awesome day for America and its armed forces.
Democrats, alternatively, decried the choice to substantiate Hegseth, who has served excursions of obligation in Iraq, Afghanistan and Guantanamo Bay.
“Pete Hegseth’s affirmation will make our nation much less protected,” Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) posted on X.
“It’s a unhappy and harmful day when Republican Senators put loyalty to President Trump forward of our nationwide safety.”
Senate Minority Chief Chuck Schumer (D-NY) mentioned the navy deserves somebody higher, describing Hegseth as “erratic and unqualified.”
“Hegseth has defended battle criminals & rejected worldwide regulation,” Sen. Bernie Sanders (D-VT) posted on X previous to the vote.
“He’s a outstanding advocate for privatizing the VA. He was pressured to step down from main two advocacy teams after repeated allegations of monetary mismanagement, sexual harassment & alcohol abuse. I’m voting NO.”
McConnell additionally defended his choice to vote towards occasion traces, calling the place of protection secretary probably the most consequential cupboard official in any administration with the results of failure increased than they’ve ever been.
“In his testimony earlier than the Committee, Mr. Hegseth offered no substantial observations on find out how to defend Taiwan or the Philippines towards a Chinese language assault, and even whether or not he believes the US ought to achieve this,” McConnell mentioned in a prolonged assertion that ended with him wishing Hegseth “nice success”
“He failed, for that matter, to articulate in any element a strategic imaginative and prescient for coping with the gravest long-term menace emanating from the PRC. Absent, too, was any substantive dialogue of countering our adversaries’ alignment with deeper alliance relationships and extra intensive protection industrial cooperation of our personal.”
Supply hyperlink
