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One of Donald Trump’s most controversial cabinet names was barely confirmed by the US Senate despite allegations for sexual assault and alcohol abuse as chairman of the pentagon.
Pete Hegseth became US Defense Minister after the Senate voted for him late Friday evening with 51 to 50 after Vice President JD Vance broke the tie.
The Republican Senators Mitch McConnell, Lisa Murkowski and Susan Collins voted against Hegseth’s confirmation together with the Democrats.
Hegseth survived a last attempt by the Democrats to prevent his confirmation after his former sister-in-law Danielle Hegseth had given an affidavit in which she accused him of treating his ex-wife so abusive hidden in a closet For fear of your security. She also claimed that he had abused alcohol for years.
The former Fox News moderator differs from the typical Minister of Defense. His predecessor, Lloyd Austin, was a retired army coal who led the US Central Command, which comprises military operations in the Middle East.
As a loud opponent of “alertness”, Hegseth swore to return a “warrior” culture to the US military, while the Trump government is trying to abolish the Federal Government’s diversity initiatives.
He also said that one of his priorities would be to secure the border between the USA and Mexico. The Pentagon said on Wednesday that a further 1,500 active soldiers will send to the southern border of the United States on Wednesday, which corresponds to an increase by 60 percent.
McConnell said that he was voted against Hegseth because the candidate lacks the “strategic vision” for coping with the greatest national security challenges in the United States.
McConnell said that Hegseth had “made no significant comments on how Taiwan or the Philippines could be defended” and “no detailed strategic vision for dealing” with China. Even the new Minister of Defense could not prove that he could effectively guide the Pentagon.
On Thursday, Murkowski said she couldn’t choose him. “with a clear conscience“While Collins said she was”unpunished that his position towards women who serve in combat roles has changed. ”
Before the vote, Trump told reporters on Friday that he was “very surprised that Collins and Murkowski would do that” and added that “Pete was a very, very good man”.
He also expected that McConnell would also hold back: “Of course, Mitch is always right with ‘No’, I think.”
Trump card Shocked Washington and defense circles When he chose Hegseth, which served in the national guard of the army, for the role. Since then he has been pursued by allegations of sexual assault, alcohol abuse, misogyny, sexism and racism.
Hegseth said in written answers to questions that he had paid $ 50,000 Senator Elizabeth Warren said to the woman who accused him of sexual assault in a California hotel room.
Hegseth rejected the allegations of sexual assault, his character and preparation for the top post in the Pentagon as a “defamation campaign” in his Senate Confirmation negotiation Last week. He also tried to revise his earlier statements about soldiers and said that they had “access to floor fighting inserts because the standards are still high”.
On the air, Hegseth became known for denouncing diversity, justice and integrative initiatives. The DEI policy in the military is to “split troops” and “force commanders to go to eggshells,” said Hegseth at his hearing.
Another confirmation fireworks in the Senate could occur if two other controversial cabinet candidates, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Tulsi Gabbard, are examined by the senators on January 29 and 30. Kennedy, both former Democrats, was nominated for the office of Minister of Health and Gabard for the Office of Director of the National Secret Service.
