Pete Hegseth was confirmed as the US Defense Secretary in spite of allegations of misconduct

Vice President Vance broke the tie and approved Pete Hegseth as US Defense Secretary in the wake of misbehavior charges.

Donald Trump’s choice for US defense secretary, Pete Hegseth, was confirmed by the Senate late Friday night following a tense confirmation hearing that included accusations of adultery, sexual assault, and binge drinking. 

After Vice President JD Vance broke the tie, Hegseth was finally approved in spite of intense criticism and scrutiny.

The Senate was in a 50-50 stalemate when three Republican senators, including former Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, voted against Hegseth’s nomination in the confirmation vote. Vance was just the second vice president in US history to break a tie on a cabinet candidate, having done it in 2017 with Mike Pence. He delivered the decisive vote in favor of Hegseth.

In a statement, McConnell voiced his skepticism about Hegseth’s suitability for the defense secretary role, pointing to his incapacity to oversee a $1.84 billion department with three million workers. “Mr. Hegseth has not yet proven that he can pass this test,” McConnell stated.

Hegseth, a 44-year-old veteran of the Iraq and Afghanistan conflicts, was a Fox News television anchor before that. Allegations hampered his confirmation process, including claims of sexual assault from a 2017 encounter in a hotel in Monterey, which he has rejected on many occasions. The nomination was further tainted by additional claims of adultery and alcohol addiction from his prior marriages.

In response to these accusations, Hegseth stated that “redemption is real” at his confirmation hearing while acknowledging his prior errors. He was also questioned about his suitability for the post because he had no prior experience in government or national security roles.

Republican senators, such as Roger Wicker of Mississippi, backed Hegseth, stating that he was President Trump’s pick and would implement the required reforms at the Department of Defense. 

“Unless he is not qualified for the position, we owe it to this commander in chief to put him in this position because he is the president’s choice,” Wicker said.

But there was also disagreement throughout the hearing on Hegseth’s prior comments against women serving in combat roles. Hegseth stated that upholding military standards was his major concern, not women in battle, when questioned about his remarks.

Deep rifts within the Republican Party were exposed during the confirmation process, when Senators Susan Collins and Lisa Murkowski voted against Hegseth. Murkowski raised doubts on Hegseth’s judgment, while Collins questioned his background for such a crucial position.

In spite of the criticism, Hegseth’s confirmation proceeds, putting him in charge of one of the biggest government organizations globally. In his capacity as defense secretary, he will supervise the US military and seek to carry out President Trump’s defense agenda.