The Senate confirmed Pete Hegseth as the new secretary of defense late Friday night after a nail-biting vote, solidifying his place at the helm of the Pentagon. The vote split 50-50 along mostly partisan lines, with US Vice President JD Vance casting the decisive tie-breaking vote in favour of the controversial nominee.
US President Donald Trump quickly celebrated the confirmation, praising Hegseth on Truth Social, “Congratulations to Pete Hegseth. He will make a great Secretary of Defense!”
Hegseth, a 44-year-old retired Army major and former Fox News host, has been one of Trump’s most polarising cabinet appointees, drawing both fierce criticism and staunch support. While Republicans hailed his military experience and commitment to strengthening the armed forces, Democrats raised serious concerns about his qualifications, past conduct, and controversial remarks.
A divided Senate and a contentious confirmation
Three Republican senators—Susan Collins (R-Maine), Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), and Senate minority leader Mitch McConnell (R-Kentucky)—joined all 47 Democrats in opposing Hegseth’s nomination. Vice President Vance, stepping in to cast the deciding vote, joked on social media afterwards, “I thought I was done voting in the Senate.”
Hegseth’s critics highlighted a series of allegations against him, including sexual assault, financial mismanagement, and excessive drinking. They also cited his controversial statements about women serving in the military, including a declaration after the November election that women should not serve in combat roles.
Despite these controversies, the majority of Republicans rallied behind Hegseth, emphasising his military credentials and alignment with Trump’s vision for a stronger and more aggressive US defense policy.
Republican support and optimism
Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) lauded Hegseth’s confirmation, calling him “bullish on creating a larger, more lethal military” and “clear-eyed about America’s enemies, including Iran.” Graham also noted Hegseth’s strong support for Israel, saying, “Israel will have no better friend than Pete Hegseth.”
Other Republicans echoed Graham’s optimism. Senator Ted Cruz (R-Texas) described Hegseth as “the change agent that the DOD desperately needs,” while Senator Katie Britt (R-Alabama) expressed confidence in his ability to “restore peace through strength.”
Republican Whip John Thune (R-SD) celebrated the moment, posting photos of him embracing Hegseth on social media with an American flag emoji and the message, “Congrats Mr secretary.”
Prominent conservative figures, including Donald Trump Jr and Megyn Kelly, also voiced their support, framing Hegseth’s confirmation as a victory for America’s armed forces.
Democratic dissent
Democrats, however, were unanimous in their opposition, with Senate minority leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) calling Hegseth “erratic and unqualified.” Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass) warned that his confirmation “will make our nation less safe,” while Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vt) criticised Hegseth’s history of defending war criminals and advocating for privatising the VA.
Even some Republicans, including McConnell, expressed serious reservations. In a detailed statement, McConnell criticised Hegseth’s lack of a strategic vision for countering major threats like China and his inability to articulate plans for defending US allies in Asia. “The consequences of failure in this role are higher than ever,” McConnell said, though he ultimately wished Hegseth “great success.”
