After much struggle, finally Donald Trump’s pick for defense secretary Pete Hegseth got the Senate nod by a fine margin as few of the Republicans turned away but Vice President JD Vance saved him.
The Senate split in half after 50 members including 3 Republicans, surprisingly, didn’t gave their nod for Pete Hegseth. As 3 Republicans chose not to give their confirmation, Hegseth was swing in between for his confirmation.
45 Democrats, 2 independent and 3 Republicans, totaling 50 had withdrew their support while 50 gave their nod to Hegseth. As the voting stopped at draw, JD Vance came as a savior for him and voted in favor of Hegseth.
Hegseth has become the centre of concerns after his past behavioral video surface and also questioned about his experience.
Who are the Republicans that voted against Hegseth
Joining 47 member of the Democratic Caucus, three Republicans were: Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Susan Collins of Maine.
Mitch McConnell
Former Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell expressed his lack of confidence in Hegseth’s capabilities to lead the Pentagon during a period of increasing security challenges from Russia, China, Iran and their allies.
McConnell highlighted the significant responsibilities of managing approximately 3 million personnel, a budget approaching $1 trillion, and international partnerships. He stated, “Mr Hegseth has failed, as yet, to demonstrate that he will pass this test. But as he assumes office, the consequences of failure are as high as they have ever been.”
During the confirmation hearing, McConnell noted Hegseth’s insufficient responses regarding the defence of Taiwan and the Philippines against potential Chinese aggression. He also pointed out the absence of substantial discussion on countering adversaries through alliance relationships and defence cooperation, The Hill reported.
Lisa Murkowski
Lisa Murkowski raised concerns about Hegseth’s suitability for the role, stating, “The leader of the Department of Defense must demonstrate and model the standards of behavior and character we expect of all servicemembers, and Mr. Hegseth’s nomination to the role poses significant concerns that I cannot overlook.”
Murkowski also expressed skepticism over Hegseth’s leadership experience, saying his “limited managerial experience involved running two small non-profit organizations that had decidedly mixed results,” as per the Hill.
Susan Collins
Susan Collins announced her opposition to Hegseth’s nomination, stating, “After careful consideration, I have decided to vote against Pete Hegseth’s nomination for Secretary of Defense. While I appreciate his courageous military service and his ongoing commitment to our servicemembers and their families, I am concerned that he does not have the experience and perspective necessary to succeed in the job.”
Collins further emphasised the current challenges facing the military, including active conflicts in the Middle East and Europe, Pacific threats, and financial constraints. She noted the significant responsibility of managing nearly three million employees and a budget of approximately $850 billion, alongside persistent procurement and supply issues that have deteriorated under the Biden Administration, Yahoo reported.
