Physical Address
304 North Cardinal St.
Dorchester Center, MA 02124
Republican lawmakers celebrated after the Senate narrowly confirmed Pete Hegseth as defense secretary on Friday.
The Senate was split 50-50, with three Republicans: Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, Susan Collins, R-Maine, and Mitch McConnell, R-Kentucky. — join Democrats to oppose Hegseth’s confirmation, forcing the vice president J.D. Vance to cast the tie-breaking vote.
After Hegseth was confirmed, Republican lawmakers praised him as a “change agent” who has a “warrior passion.”
“Pete has served in the Army National Guard as a frontline officer, and has a keen intellect and a passion for the warrior,” Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., wrote on social media platform X.
PETE HEGSETH CONFIRMED TO LEAD PENTAGON AFTER VP VANCE CAST TIE-BREAKING VOTE
Pete Hegseth testifies during his Senate Armed Forces confirmation hearing on Capitol Hill on January 14, 2025, in Washington, DC. (Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)
“He did an excellent job during a very contentious hearing and withstood all the attacks that came his way,” Graham added. “He is optimistic about 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, said he was “proud to vote to confirm Pete Hegseth as Secretary of Defense.”
“He is the change agent that the Department of Defense desperately needs,” Cruz said.
Oklahoma Senator Markwayne Mullin said, “We did it, America.”
“It was an honor to be in the fight with my friend and his Secretary of Defense: @PeteHegseth,” he wrote. “The Hegseth family is the best!!”
“Hell yeah! @PeteHegseth is the right man for this job,” said Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah. “I’m honored to have voted for him. We just confirmed him as the next Secretary of Defense.”
Senator Roger Marshall wrote: “Congratulations to @PeteHegseth, our new Secretary of Defense! Pete will bring transformational change, refocusing our military on lethality and recruiting efforts. I can’t wait to see what great work he will do.”
“Pete Hegseth is the perfect person to make our military great again and achieve peace through strength,” wrote Sen. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tennessee. “It was an honor to support his nomination and I look forward to seeing him restore confidence in the Department of Defense by prioritizing warfighters over bureaucrats.”
MCCONNELL VOTED NO TO HEGSETH AS HEAD OF THE PENTAGON, FORCING VANCE TO ISSUE THE PERFORMANCE
Pete Hegseth at the conclusion of his confirmation hearing before the Senate Armed Services Committee, on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, January 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Ben Curtis)
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., congratulated Hegseth on his confirmation, saying, “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,” said Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, R-Fla.
Meanwhile, Democrats questioned Hegseth’s credentials for lead the pentagon before confirmation.
“Is Pete Hegseth, who failed to manage the finances of nonprofit veterans groups, who put his organizations in debt to the point where he couldn’t even pay creditors, really the person Republicans want in charge of the Pentagon budget?” Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., wrote in X before the vote.
Schumer also asked, “Is Pete Hegseth really the best Republican you have to lead the world’s largest military?”
“Our troops deserve better than someone as erratic and incompetent as Pete Hegseth,” he added.
Sen. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., said, “We deserve a Secretary of Defense with solid experience, good judgment and good character. Pete Hegseth does not pass the test.”
Pete Hegseth during a Senate Armed Services Committee confirmation hearing in Washington, DC, Tuesday, January 14, 2025. (Kent Nishimura/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
Hegseth, a former Fox News host, had faced questions before his confirmation about his infidelity, accusations of sexual assault and excessive alcohol consumption, his previous comments opposing women serving in combat roles in the army and his leadership skills.
Married three times, Hegseth admitted he was a “serial cheater” before converting to Christianity and marrying his current wife, Jenny. She also originally said she opposed women in combat, before later saying she only opposes standards for women in combat that are different from those of men. Hegseth also denied allegations of sexual assault and said he would abstain from alcohol as defense secretary.
