Pete Hegseth, Donald Trump’s controversial alternative for US defence secretary, has been confirmed for the job.
The 44-year-old ex-veteran and former Fox Information host narrowly secured the highest Pentagon put up with vp JD Vance casting the 51-50 tie-breaking vote.
Three Republican senators – Susan Collins of Maine, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, and Mitch McConnell of Kentucky – joined Democrats to oppose his nomination.
It’s the second time in historical past a vp has damaged a tie for a cupboard nominee. In 2017, then vp Mike Pence was known as in to interrupt a tie to verify Mr Trump’s earlier choose of Betsy DeVos as training secretary.
Mr Trump praised Mr Hegseth shortly after the vote, saying he would make a “nice secretary of defence” in a put up on Fact Social.
Nevertheless, through the affirmation listening to, which was disrupted by three protesters, Mr Hegseth was accused of missing the competence for the job.
Hours earlier than the vote, Democrat after Democrat took to the Senate ground to object.
Senator Chris Murphy mentioned through the debate there are few Trump nominees as “dangerously and woefully unqualified as Hegseth”.
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Mr Hegseth is probably the most divisive candidate to clinch the US army’s prime job.
He’s a controversial alternative due to previous statements and actions, together with allegations of sexual assault – which he has denied – extreme ingesting, and derisive views about ladies in army fight roles.
However most Senate Republicans fell into line to defend Mr Hegseth.
Senate majority chief John Thune mentioned Mr Hegseth, as a veteran of the Military Nationwide Guard who served excursions in Iraq and Afghanistan, “will deliver a warrior’s perspective” to the put up.
Senator Jack Reed of Rhode Island, the highest Democrat on the armed companies committee, nonetheless, mentioned in a press release he would watch the brand new defence secretary “like a hawk” and “demand accountability”.
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Mr Hegseth steps into the position as the brand new Trump administration has mentioned border safety and immigration will catch the attention of the US army.
Little is understood about his views on key international coverage points resembling arming Ukraine, making ready the US army for a possible battle with China, and whether or not he would search to cut back the nation’s footprint in locations together with Syria and Iraq.
Former president Joe Biden’s defence secretary, Lloyd Austin, was confirmed by a 93-2 vote in 2021, and Jim Mattis, Mr Trump’s first defence secretary in his final administration, was confirmed by a 98-1 vote in 2017.
