Pete Hegseth frankly confirmed as Trump’s defense secretary

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One of Donald Trump’s most controversial Cabinet picks has been confirmed to head the Pentagon, despite allegations of sexual assault and alcohol abuse.

Pete Hegseth will become US Secretary of Defense after the Senate voted 51-50 in his favor late on Friday night, with Vice President JD Vance breaking the tie.

Republican Senators Mitch McConnell, Lisa Murkowski and Susan Collins joined Democrats in voting against Hegseth’s confirmation.

Hegseth survived another effort by Democrats to block his confirmation after his ex-sister, Danielle Hegseth, made a pointed statement accusing him of being so abusive to his ex-wife that she… He hid in a closet Out of fear for her safety. She also claimed he abused alcohol for years.

The former Fox News host is a departure from the typical Secretary of Defense. His predecessor, Lloyd Austin, was a retired Army general who oversaw US Central Command, which includes military operations in the Middle East.

A vocal opponent of “Wokeness,” Hegseth has vowed to bring a “warrior” culture back to the U.S. military as the Trump administration moves to eliminate the federal government’s diversity initiatives.

He also said one of his priorities is securing the U.S.-Mexico border. The Pentagon said Wednesday it will send an additional 1,500 active-duty troops to the southern US border, a 60 percent increase, on the president’s orders.

McConnell said he voted against Hegseth because the candidate lacks a “strategic vision” for how to address America’s greatest national security challenges.

McConnell said Hegseth “did not provide any substantive feedback on how to defend Taiwan or the Philippines” and did not articulate in any detail a strategic vision for dealing with China. The incoming Secretary of Defense has also failed to prove that he can effectively run the Pentagon.

On Thursday, Murkowski said she couldn’t vote for him.In good conscience“, while Collins said she was”Not convinced “His attitude towards women serving in combat roles has changed.”

Before the vote, Trump told reporters on Friday that he was “very surprised that Collins and Murkowski would do this,” adding that “Pete is a very good man.”

He expected McConnell to serve as a comment as well: “Of course, Mitch is always a ‘no’ vote, I guess.”

Trump Washington and the defense circles were shocked When he chose Hegseth, who served in the Army National Guard, for the role. since then Suffering from allegations From sexual assault, alcohol abuse, misogyny, sexism and racism.

Hegseth said in written answers to the questions he prompted $50,000 To the woman who accused him of sexual assault in a California hotel room in 2017, according to Sen. Elizabeth Warren.

Hegseth dismissed the allegations about sexual assault, his character and his preparation for the Pentagon’s top job as a “smear campaign” in the Senate. Confirmation hearing Last week. He also tried to revise his previous comments about soldiers for women, saying he would take ground combat roles, given that standards were still high.”

On air, Hegseth has become known for championing diversity, equity, and inclusive initiatives. Hegseth said at his hearing that the Army’s DEI policies were “dividing the forces” and forcing “commanders to walk on eggshells.”

More Senate fireworks could come when Senators are impeached on January 29 and January 30, respectively. More Senate fireworks could come when Senators are impeached on January 29 and January 30, respectively. Both former Democrats, Kennedy was tapped for Secretary of Health and Gabbard for Director of National Intelligence.