Washington — Pete Hegseth’s confirmation as the next Secretary of Defense concluded with a razor-thin margin in the Senate, marking a significant moment in President Trump’s administration. After a heated battle over his nomination, Hegseth was eventually approved to lead the Pentagon. He was officially sworn in on Saturday morning, following the closely watched vote.
The Senate vote tally revealed a deeply divided chamber, with 51 senators in favor and 50 against Hegseth’s confirmation. The vote largely fell along party lines, but the narrow victory was underscored by the fact that three Republicans broke ranks to oppose the nomination. This Republican dissent forced Vice President JD Vance to step in and cast a tie-breaking vote, ultimately securing Hegseth’s position. The situation was so precarious that had just four Republicans voted against Hegseth, his nomination would have failed.
Hegseth’s path to confirmation was far from smooth. His nomination faced considerable turbulence due to serious allegations that surfaced, including accusations of sexual misconduct and financial mismanagement. Despite these clouds of controversy and moments where support for his confirmation seemed to waver, Hegseth, a former Fox News host, maintained a combative stance. Crucially, he retained the unwavering backing of President Trump throughout the process.
Immediately after being sworn in, Secretary Hegseth issued his first public statement to the troops. In his message, he declared, “We will revive the warrior ethos and restore trust in our military.” He further elaborated on the mission set forth by President Trump, emphasizing a strategy of achieving peace through strength. According to Hegseth, this mission would be realized by not only rebuilding the military and re-establishing deterrence but also by reigniting the warrior ethos within the armed forces.
While Senate Republicans largely rallied to support Hegseth, dismissing the swirling allegations, some within the party could not overlook the gravity of the accusations. Among the allegations was a sworn affidavit from Hegseth’s former sister-in-law, which emerged just this week and was presented to members of the Senate Armed Services Committee. In this affidavit, she alleged deeply troubling behavior, stating that Hegseth’s second wife feared for her safety and that he had a history of alcohol abuse spanning many years.
Despite the party’s general support, the confirmation vote revealed cracks in Republican unity. Senators Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Susan Collins of Maine both broke ranks and voted against Hegseth’s confirmation. Murkowski publicly stated her inability to support Hegseth, citing the “numerous allegations” and his past positions on women in combat roles. She emphasized that “these behaviors starkly contrast the values and discipline expected of service members,” arguing that military personnel are held accountable for such actions and deserve leaders who embody the same standards. Murkowski also questioned Hegseth’s preparedness for the immense responsibilities of leading the Defense Department based on his career history.
Collins echoed similar concerns, stating her apprehension that Hegseth lacked the necessary “experience and perspective” for the role. She also expressed doubt that his views on women serving in combat roles had genuinely evolved. Adding to the surprise, Senator Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, a prominent Republican figure, also voted against Hegseth, despite having voted to advance his nomination just the day before. McConnell delivered a stark assessment on the Senate floor, stating that Hegseth had “failed, as yet, to demonstrate that he will pass this test.” However, he acknowledged the high stakes as Hegseth assumed office.
President Trump, who was in California at the time to assess wildfire damage, expressed unawareness of McConnell’s vote but voiced strong support for Hegseth, confidently predicting he would be a “great secretary of defense.” Before casting the crucial tie-breaking vote, Vice President Vance humorously remarked on social media, “I thought I was done voting in the senate,” highlighting the unexpected necessity of his intervention.
During his contentious confirmation hearing the previous week, Hegseth faced intense scrutiny from Democrats. They pressed him on a sexual assault allegation from October 2017, which Hegseth has consistently denied. Senator Tim Kaine of Virginia engaged in particularly pointed questioning, delving into Hegseth’s history of infidelity across his three marriages. Kaine directly challenged Hegseth’s judgment, asking, “Can you so casually cheat on a second wife?” and probing the circumstances surrounding the alleged sexual encounter and Hegseth’s marital status at the time.
Hegseth notably avoided directly answering Kaine’s line of questioning, also sidestepping the query of whether a sexual assault finding would be disqualifying. Earlier in the hearing, Hegseth dismissed the allegations as a smear campaign intended to destroy his reputation. He admitted to not being “a perfect person” but credited “Jesus and Jenny,” his wife whom he married in 2019, with his personal redemption. It had recently been revealed that Hegseth paid a $50,000 settlement to his accuser. He also addressed his past reservations about women in combat roles, stating that his previous stance stemmed from concerns about maintaining standards within the military.
Hegseth, a veteran of Iraq and Afghanistan, joined Fox News in 2014 and co-hosted “Fox & Friends Weekend” before leaving to accept the nomination for Secretary of Defense. His confirmation, despite the narrow vote and significant opposition, marks the beginning of a new chapter for the Pentagon under his leadership.
