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Republican lawmakers celebrated after the Senate narrowly confirmed Pete Hegseth as secretary of defense on Friday.
The Senate is split 50-50 with three Republicans split, along with Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, Susan Collins, R-Maine, and Mitch McConnell, R-KY. – joined Democrats in opposing Hegseth’s confirmation, forcing Vice President J.D. Vance to break ties.
After Hegseth was confirmed, GOP lawmakers praised him as a “change agent” who has a “passion for the fighter.”
“Pete serves in the Army National Guard as a front-line officer, and he has a keen intellect and a passion for warfighters,” Sen. Lindsey Graham wrote on social media platform X.
Pete Hegseth confirmed to lead Pentagon after VP Vance cast tie-breaking vote
Pete Hegseth testifies during a Senate Armed Services Confirmation Hearing on Capitol Hill on January 14, 2025 in Washington, DC (Andrew Harnik/Getty Images).
“He did a great job in a very contentious hearing and withstood all the attacks that came his way,” Graham added. “He is bullish on building a larger, more lethal military and is clearly woke about America’s enemies, including Iran. Israel could not have a better friend than Pete Hegseth. ”
Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, said he is “proud to vote to confirm Pete Hegseth as Secretary of Defense.”
“He is the change agent that DOD desperately needs,” Cruz said.
Oklahoma Sen. Markwayne Mullin said, “We did it, America.”
“It was an honor to join my friend in the fight against your secdef: @petehegseth,” he wrote. “The Hegstes family is the best!!”
“Yeah! @petehegseth is a man for the job,” said the R-Utah senator. “I was honored to vote for him and we have confirmed him as the next Secretary of Defense.”
Sen. Roger Marshall wrote: “Congratulations to our new Secretary of Defense @petehegseth!
“Pete Hegseth is the perfect fit to make our military great again and achieve peace through power,” wrote Sen. Marsha Blackburn (Ten). “It was an honor to support his nomination, and I look forward to watching him restore confidence in the Department of Defense by prioritizing the warfighter over the bureaucrats.”
McConnell voted no on Hegseth as Pentagon Head, forcing Vance to cast Tiebreaker
Pete Hegseth upon completion of his confirmation hearing before the Senate Armed Services Committee at the Capitol on Tuesday, January 14, 2025 in Washington (AP Photo/Ben Curtis)
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) congratulated Hegseth on the confirmation, saying, “All our brave service members and all Americans are safer with you leading the Pentagon. America’s strength is back. Ta!”
“Congratulations to our new Secretary of Defense,” R-Fla. said Congresswoman Anna Paulina Luna.
Democrats, meanwhile, question Hegseth’s qualifications and lead pentagons ahead of his confirmation.
“Pete Hegseth was a man who mismanaged the finances of a veterans nonprofit, and he drove the organization into debt to the point where it couldn’t even pay its creditors? Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D.N.Y., wrote to X before the vote.
Schumer also asked, “Does Pete Hegseth really have to be the best Republican to lead the world’s greatest military?”
“Our troops are better than someone as erratic and unqualified as Pete Heggs,” he added.
Sen. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) said, “We deserve a Secretary of Defense with solid experience, sound judgment, and good character. Pete Hegseth does not meet the test.”
Pete Hegseth during the Senate Armed Services Committee confirmation hearing on Tuesday, January 14, 2025 in Washington, DC (Kent Nishimura/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
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Hegseth, a former Fox News host, has previously been criticized for his infidelity, sexual assault allegations, allegations of excessive drinking, his previous comments against women serving in combat roles in the military and his leadership abilities. I was faced with doubts.
Hegs, who has been married three times, admits that he was a “serial cheater” before he became a Christian and married his current wife Jenny. He also originally opposed women in combat and later said that he only opposes standards for women in combat that are different from those of men. Hegseth has further denied the sexual assault allegations and said he would abstain from alcohol as defense secretary.
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