Republican lawmakers celebrated after the Senate narrowly confirmed Pete Hegseth as protection secretary on Friday.
The Senate was break up 50-50, with three Republicans — Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, Susan Collins, R-Maine, and Mitch McConnell, R-Ky. — becoming a member of the Democrats in opposing Hegseth’s affirmation, forcing Vice President JD Vance to forged the tie-breaking vote.
After Hegseth was confirmed, GOP lawmakers praised him as a “change agent” who has a “ardour for the warfighter.”
“Pete has served within the Military Nationwide Guard as a entrance line officer, and he has a eager mind and a ardour for the warfighter,” Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., wrote on the social media platform X.
PETE HEGSETH CONFIRMED TO LEAD PENTAGON AFTER VP VANCE CASTS TIE-BREAKING VOTE
Pete Hegseth testifies throughout his Senate Armed Providers affirmation listening to on Capitol Hill on Jan. 14, 2025, in Washington, D.C. (Andrew Harnik/Getty Photos)
“He did a superb job throughout a really contentious listening to and withstood all of the assaults that got here his means,” Graham added. “He’s bullish on creating a bigger, extra deadly navy and is clear-eyed about America’s enemies, together with Iran. Israel may have no higher good friend than Pete Hegseth.”
Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, stated he was “proud to vote to verify Pete Hegseth as Secretary of Protection.”
“He’s the change agent that the DOD desperately wants,” Cruz stated.
Oklahoma Sen. Markwayne Mullin stated: “We did it, America.”
“It was an honor to be within the battle with my good friend, and your SecDef: @PeteHegseth,” he wrote. “The Hegseth household is one of the best!!”
“Heck yeah! @PeteHegseth is the person for the job,” Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, stated. “I’m honored to have voted for him. We simply confirmed him as the subsequent protection secretary.”
Sen. Roger Marshall wrote: “Congratulations to @PeteHegseth, our new Secretary of Protection! Pete will carry transformative change, refocusing our navy on lethality and recruiting efforts. I can’t wait to see what a fantastic job he’ll do.”
“Pete Hegseth is the right match to make our navy nice once more and obtain peace by means of power,” Sen. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., wrote. “It was an honor to help his nomination, and I look ahead to seeing him restore belief within the Division of Protection by prioritizing battle fighters over bureaucrats.”
MCCONNELL VOTED NO ON HEGSETH AS PENTAGON HEAD, FORCING VANCE TO CAST TIEBREAKER
Pete Hegseth on the completion of his affirmation listening to earlier than the Senate Armed Providers Committee, on the Capitol in Washington, Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2025. (AP Picture/Ben Curtis)
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., congratulated Hegseth on his affirmation and stated that “Each courageous service member and each American is safer with you main the Pentagon. American power is BACK!”
“Congratulations to our NEW secretary of protection,” Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, R-Fla., stated.
Democrats, in the meantime, questioned Hegseth’s credentials to lead the Pentagon forward of his affirmation.
“Is Pete Hegseth—who didn’t handle the funds of veterans’ nonprofit teams, who drove his organizations into debt to the purpose the place he couldn’t even pay collectors—actually the particular person Republicans need answerable for the Pentagon’s finances?” Senate Minority Chief Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., wrote on X earlier than the vote.
Schumer additionally requested: “Is Pete Hegseth actually one of the best Republicans have to steer the best navy on the planet?”
“Our troops deserve higher than somebody as erratic and unqualified as Pete Hegseth,” he added.
Sen. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., stated: “We deserve a Secretary of Protection with strong expertise, sound judgment, and good character. Pete Hegseth doesn’t meet the check.”
Pete Hegseth throughout a Senate Armed Providers Committee affirmation listening to in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2025. (Kent Nishimura/Bloomberg through Getty Photos)
Hegseth, a former Fox Information host, had confronted questions forward of his affirmation over his infidelity, allegations of sexual assault and extreme consuming, his earlier feedback opposing girls serving in combat roles in the military and his management skills.
Married 3 times, Hegseth has admitted he was a “serial cheater” earlier than he turned a Christian and married his present spouse, Jenny. He additionally initially stated he opposed girls in fight, earlier than later saying that he solely opposes requirements for girls in fight which might be completely different from these for males. Hegseth has moreover denied the sexual assault allegations and has stated he would abstain from alcohol as protection secretary.
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