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Pete Hegseth narrowly confirmed as Trump’s defence secretary

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The US Senate has narrowly approved the selection of one of Donald Trump’s most controversial cabinet ministers to head the Pentagon, despite allegations of sexual assault and alcohol abuse.

Pete Hegseth will become US Secretary of Defense after the Senate voted 51 to 50 in his favor late Friday night, with Vice President J.D. Vance breaking a tie.

Republican Senators Mitch McConnell, Lisa Murkowski and Susan Collins joined Democrats in voting against Hegseth’s confirmation.

Hegseth survived a last-ditch attempt by Democrats to block his confirmation after his ex-sister, Danielle Hegseth, made a sworn statement accusing him of abusing his ex-wife to the point that she… He hid in a closet Fearing for her safety. She also claimed that he abused alcohol for years.

The former Fox News host is a departure from the typical Secretary of Defense. His predecessor, Lloyd Austin, was a retired Army general who oversaw US Central Command, which includes military operations in the Middle East.

Hegseth, a staunch opponent of “wokeism,” has vowed to bring a “warrior” culture back to the US military as the Trump administration moves to eliminate the federal government’s diversity initiatives.

He also said that one of his priorities would be to secure the US-Mexico border. The Pentagon announced on Wednesday that it would send an additional 1,500 troops to the southern border of the United States, an increase of 60 percent, on the president’s orders.

McConnell said he voted against Hegseth because the candidate lacks a “strategic vision” for how to address America’s biggest national security challenges.

McConnell said Hegseth “did not provide substantive feedback on how to defend Taiwan or the Philippines” and did not “articulate in any detail a strategic vision for dealing” with China. The new Secretary of Defense also failed to prove his ability to run the Pentagon effectively.

Murkowski said Thursday that she could not vote for him.In good conscience“, while Collins said she was”Not convinced “His attitude toward women serving in combat roles has changed.”

Ahead of the vote, Trump told reporters on Friday that he was “very surprised that Collins and Murkowski did this,” adding that “Pete is a very, very good man.”

He also predicted McConnell would decline as well: “Of course, Mitch always votes no, I think.”

Trump Washington and the defense circles were shocked When he chose Hegseth, who served in the Army National Guard, for the role. It has been since then Pursued by allegations Sexual assault, alcohol abuse, misogyny, sexism and racism.

Hegseth said in written answers to questions he prompted $50,000 To the woman who accused him of sexual assault in a California hotel room in 2017, according to Senator Elizabeth Warren.

Hegseth has denied the allegations regarding sexual assault, his character and his willingness to hold the Pentagon’s top job, calling it a “smear campaign” in the Senate. Confirmation hearing Last week. He also tried to review his previous statements regarding female soldiers, saying that they “will be able to perform ground combat roles, given that standards are still high.”

Hegseth became known on air for his condemnation of diversity, equality and inclusive initiatives. Hegseth said at the hearing that the Army’s DEI policies were “dividing the forces” and forcing “commanders to walk on eggshells.”

More Senate confirmation fireworks could come when senators grill two more controversial Cabinet nominees, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Tulsi Gabbard, on January 29 and 30, respectively. Kennedy, both former Democrats, were nominated for Secretary of Health and Gabbard for Director of National Intelligence.

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2025-01-25 03:24:00

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