Pete Hegseth Confirmed As Trump's Defense Secretary
HuffPost
The 44-year-old former Fox News host is set to begin the job as the least experienced defense secretary in modern history.
The Senate confirmed former Fox News host Pete Hegseth as the nation’s next secretary of defense on Friday after weeks of debate about his slim qualifications and his alleged history of alcohol abuse and domestic abuse.
The vote was 50-50, with GOP Sens. Susan Collins of Maine, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and a surprise Mitch McConnell of Kentucky standing in opposition. The three Republican no votes forced Vice President JD Vance to cast a tie-breaking decision in Hegseth’s favor.
It’s the first time in U.S. history that a defense secretary was confirmed by a tie vote in the Senate.
Hegseth, a 44-year-old veteran who has vowed to end “woke” military policies, was nominated by then-President-elect Donald Trump in November to the bewilderment of much of the national security community. He is set to begin the job as the least experienced defense secretary in modern history.
Republicans defended the pick, saying that an unconventional leader with experience outside government is needed to shake up the department and “restore American strength” abroad. Those who initially expressed concerns were quickly met with threats of primaries by Trump’s allies.
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