
Pete Hegseth has been confirmed as Secretary of Defense after a tense 50-50 Senate vote was broken by Vice President JD Vance, securing his role in the Trump administration. The confirmation process faced significant resistance, with all Senate Democrats and three Republican senators—Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Susan Collins (R-ME), and Mitch McConnell (R-KY)—opposing the nomination.
Hegseth’s appointment faced intense scrutiny over allegations about his personal conduct and his views on military policy. Murkowski voiced concerns about his character, referencing past accusations of misconduct and his opposition to women serving in combat roles. Despite the criticism, Hegseth has rejected the allegations and received support from his former wife, who publicly denied 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
Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC), a crucial vote in the confirmation process, ultimately backed Hegseth, stating that his military experience in Iraq and Afghanistan provided him with a valuable perspective for leading the Pentagon.
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 vote, President Donald Trump praised the confirmation, emphasizing that Hegseth will bring a renewed focus to national security by eliminating unnecessary programs and policies, particularly those related to DEI initiatives within the military.
— Pete Hegseth (@PeteHegseth) January 25, 2025
The confirmation battle was starkly different from the swift and unanimous approval of Secretary of State Marco Rubio earlier in the week, illustrating the contentious nature of Hegseth’s appointment.
🚨 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, the Department of Defense is expected to undergo further changes, with Trump’s administration already making personnel adjustments to align the Pentagon with its strategic goals.
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