CNN
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The Senate narrowly voted to verify embattled Pete Hegseth as secretary of the Division of Protection, in a significant win for President Donald Trump and his new administration.
Vice President JD Vance solid the 51-50 tie-breaking vote after former GOP Chief Mitch McConnell and GOP Sens. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Susan Collins of Maine joined Democrats to oppose Hegseth’s nomination. It was simply the second time in historical past {that a} vp has damaged a tie for a Cupboard nominee – the opposite being then-Vice President Mike Pence for Betsy DeVos’ 2017 affirmation to steer the Training Division.
Hegseth can be sworn in because the secretary of protection Saturday morning by the vp on the White Home, in keeping with an individual accustomed to the matter.
Hegseth’s affirmation course of has been mired in allegations of sexual assault, alcohol abuse and monetary mismanagement of veterans’ charities, all of which he has denied. The Friday vote marked a big victory for the Trump administration, which has gone to the mat backing Hegseth as its nominee, regardless of his lack of expertise and allegations towards him.
Trump instructed reporters Friday evening that he had referred to as Hegseth from Marine One. Hegseth, who had been within the Senate Friday evening to look at his affirmation vote, would “be a great secretary,” the president stated.
“We just heard that we have a great secretary of defense – we’re very happy about that, we appreciate everyone’s vote,” Trump instructed reporters in an early celebration as Vance was on his method to the Senate.
As secretary, Hegseth has sworn to overtake the division, notably insurance policies that he considers “woke,” and streamline its forms. Talking throughout his affirmation listening to, Hegseth instructed lawmakers he wish to restore a “warrior culture” to the Pentagon.
McConnell echoed the phrase in a searing assertion shortly after voting towards Hegseth’s nomination, charging that “the restoration of ‘warrior culture’ will not come from trading one set of culture warriors for another.”
“By all accounts, brave young men and women join the military with the understanding that it is a meritocracy. This precious trust endures only as long as lawful civilian leadership upholds what must be a firewall between servicemembers and politics,” McConnell stated. “The Biden Administration failed at this fundamental task. But the restoration of ‘warrior culture’ will not come from trading one set of culture warriors for another.”
Whereas Senate GOP leaders had been unsure about how McConnell and Sen. Thom Tillis of North Carolina would vote as of Friday afternoon, Tillis finally voted in favor of the nomination.
With their slim majority, Republicans may solely afford to lose three GOP votes and nonetheless affirm the protection secretary with a tie-breaking vote by Vance. Hegseth had been engaged with senators as his affirmation got here right down to the wire, in keeping with senior adviser Eric Ueland.
“There’s been a lot of conversations between the secretary-designate and lots of senators,” Ueland instructed CNN forward of the vote.
Tillis unhappy he spoke with Hegseth for “nearly 2 hours” on Friday, earlier than the senator introduced he would again his nomination.
The nominee had confronted criticism within the days main as much as his affirmation.
Murkowski and Collins launched statements criticizing Hegseth on Thursday, after they introduced their opposition to his nomination. Murkowski later instructed CNN that Hegseth “lacks that strength of character” wanted to steer the Division of Protection.
Senate Minority Chief Chuck Schumer criticized Hegseth Friday morning, calling him “one of the most erratic, unqualified and unfit Cabinet nominees we have ever seen in modern times” and warning that his affirmation would endanger the “credibility of the Republican majority.”
“He has neither the character, the experience or the judgment required by the job,” the New York Democrat added.
This story has been up to date with further particulars.
CNN’s Kaitlan Collins, Equipment Maher and Donald Judd contributed to this report.
