Republican lawmakers celebrated after the Senate narrowly confirmed Pete Hegseth as protection secretary on Friday.
The Senate was break up 50-50, with three Republicans — Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, Susan Collins, R-Maine, and Mitch McConnell, R-Ky. — becoming a member of the Democrats in opposing Hegseth’s affirmation, forcing Vice President JD Vance to forged the tie-breaking vote.
After Hegseth was confirmed, GOP lawmakers praised him as a “change agent” who has a “passion for the warfighter.”
“Pete has served in the Army National Guard as a front line officer, and he has a keen intellect and a passion for the warfighter,” Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., wrote on the social media platform X.
PETE HEGSETH CONFIRMED TO LEAD PENTAGON AFTER VP VANCE CASTS TIE-BREAKING VOTE
Pete Hegseth testifies throughout his Senate Armed Companies affirmation listening to on Capitol Hill on Jan. 14, 2025, in Washington, D.C. (Andrew Harnik/Getty Pictures)
“He did an excellent job during a very contentious hearing and withstood all the attacks that came his way,” Graham added. “He is bullish on creating a larger, more lethal military and is clear-eyed about America’s enemies, including Iran. Israel will have no better friend than Pete Hegseth.”
Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, mentioned he was “proud to vote to confirm Pete Hegseth as Secretary of Defense.”
“He is the change agent that the DOD desperately needs,” Cruz mentioned.
Oklahoma Sen. Markwayne Mullin mentioned: “We did it, America.”
“It was an honor to be in the fight with my friend, and your SecDef: @PeteHegseth,” he wrote. “The Hegseth family is the best!!”
“Heck yeah! @PeteHegseth is the man for the job,” Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, mentioned. “I’m honored to have voted for him. We just confirmed him as the next defense secretary.”
Sen. Roger Marshall wrote: “Congratulations to @PeteHegseth, our new Secretary of Defense! Pete will bring transformative change, refocusing our military on lethality and recruiting efforts. I can’t wait to see what a great job he will do.”
“Pete Hegseth is the perfect fit to make our military great again and achieve peace through strength,” Sen. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., wrote. “It was an honor to support his nomination, and I look forward to seeing him restore trust in the Department of Defense by prioritizing war fighters over bureaucrats.”
MCCONNELL VOTED NO ON HEGSETH AS PENTAGON HEAD, FORCING VANCE TO CAST TIEBREAKER
Pete Hegseth on the completion of his affirmation listening to earlier than the Senate Armed Companies Committee, on the Capitol in Washington, Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2025. (AP Photograph/Ben Curtis)
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., congratulated Hegseth on his affirmation and mentioned that “Every brave service member and every American is safer with you leading the Pentagon. American strength is BACK!”
“Congratulations to our NEW secretary of defense,” Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, R-Fla., mentioned.
Democrats, in the meantime, questioned Hegseth’s credentials to lead the Pentagon forward of his affirmation.
“Is Pete Hegseth—who failed to manage the finances of veterans’ nonprofit groups, who drove his organizations into debt to the point where he could not even pay creditors—really the person Republicans want in charge of the Pentagon’s budget?” Senate Minority Chief Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., wrote on X earlier than the vote.
Schumer additionally requested: “Is Pete Hegseth really the best Republicans have to lead the greatest military in the world?”
“Our troops deserve better than someone as erratic and unqualified as Pete Hegseth,” he added.
Sen. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., mentioned: “We deserve a Secretary of Defense with solid experience, sound judgment, and good character. Pete Hegseth does not meet the test.”
Pete Hegseth throughout a Senate Armed Companies Committee affirmation listening to in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2025. (Kent Nishimura/Bloomberg by way of Getty Pictures)
Hegseth, a former Fox Information host, had confronted questions forward of his affirmation over his infidelity, allegations of sexual assault and extreme ingesting, his earlier feedback opposing ladies serving in fight roles within the navy and his management skills.
Married 3 times, Hegseth has admitted he was a “serial cheater” earlier than he turned a Christian and married his present spouse, Jenny. He additionally initially mentioned he opposed ladies in fight, earlier than later saying that he solely opposes requirements for ladies in fight which might be totally different from these for males. Hegseth has moreover denied the sexual assault allegations and has mentioned he would abstain from alcohol as protection secretary.
