JD Vance casts the deciding vote to secure Pete Hegseth’s nomination for US Secretary of Defense
Pete Hegseth narrowly won enough votes to become the next US defense secretary on Friday, a major victory for US President Donald Trump after fierce opposition from Democrats and even some Republicans to his controversial nominee.
Hegseth, 44, was confirmed after a 50-50 vote in the Senate, when Vice President JD Vance came to the floor to break a tie, after three Republicans joined — Mitch McConnell, along with Susan Collins and Lisa Murkowski, each a Democrat and an independent in vote no.
Trump spoke with Hegseth moments before Vance cast the deciding vote to confirm him.
“We have a great secretary of defense and we’re very happy,” Trump said as he boarded Air Force One after surveying the California wildfires.
The president said he didn’t care that McConnell, the former Republican Senate leader, voted against confirming Hegseth because “the important thing is winning.”
This is the second time that the vice-president has had to resolve a deadlock over a government candidate. Former Vice President Mike Pence cast the deciding vote to confirm Betsy DeVos as Secretary of Education in Trump’s first term.
A Senate historian said at the time that Pence’s vote was the first vice president to break a 50-50 tie on a Cabinet nomination.
Accusations, concerns about past behavior
Hegseth’s confirmation came amid questions about his qualifications to lead the Pentagon amid accusations drinking and aggressive behavior towards women.
Rarely has a Cabinet nominee faced such widespread concerns about his experience and conduct as Hegseth, especially for such a senior role leading the U.S. military.
But the Republican-led Senate was determined to confirm the former Fox News host and combat veteran to round out Trump’s top national security cabinet officials.
Democrats who opposed his nomination didn’t think much of Hegseth’s eligibility.
“Is Pete Hegseth really the best we have to offer?” asked Sen. Jack Reed of Rhode Island, the top Democrat on the Armed Services Committee, urging his colleagues to seriously consider their vote.
But Senate Majority Leader John Thune opened the session Friday by saying that Hegseth, as a National Guard veteran who served tours in Iraq and Afghanistan, would “bring a warrior’s perspective” to the top military post.
“Gone will be the days of vigilante distractions,” Thune said, referring to diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives. cut in the US federal government. “The Pentagon’s focus will be on warfare.”
Hegseth himself was working the phones late Friday to bolster his support, his confirmation in question.
