In a tense and historic vote late Friday night, the Senate narrowly confirmed former Fox News weekend co-host Pete Hegseth as President Donald Trump’s secretary of defense. The confirmation vote, which ended 51-50, required Vice President J.D. Vance to break the tie—a rare occurrence in modern Senate history.
Republican Senators Susan Collins (R-ME), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), and Mitch McConnell (R-KY) broke ranks to vote against Hegseth, forcing Vice President Vance to step in. “I thought I was done voting in the Senate,” Vance, a former senator from Ohio, quipped on X (formerly Twitter) moments before casting the decisive vote.
Hegseth’s confirmation was fraught with controversy, as he faced allegations of sexual assault, a history of excessive drinking, and questions about his qualifications to lead the Pentagon. Both Collins and Murkowski had publicly stated their opposition to Hegseth, citing concerns about his ability to manage the Department of Defense amid such allegations, told CNN.
This contentious vote is just the beginning of Trump’s controversial cabinet nominations. Upcoming Senate hearings will address other polarizing figures, including former Hawaii Representative Tulsi Gabbard for director of national intelligence, MAGA loyalist Kash Patel for FBI director, and anti-vaccine activist Robert F. Kennedy Jr. for secretary of health and human services.
CNN’s Manu Raju described Friday night’s vote as being “on a knife’s edge,” with lawmakers keeping a close eye on McConnell and Senator Thom Tillis (R-NC). While McConnell opposed Hegseth, Tillis voted in favor, later explaining his position on X.
“From the beginning, I have been clear about my position: if President Trump’s nominees were reported favorably out of the relevant committees, I would support their confirmation on the Senate floor absent new material information about their qualifications,” Tillis stated.
Tillis added that he conducted his “own due diligence, including asking tough questions,” and praised Hegseth for his openness during the confirmation process. “Pete has a unique perspective as a veteran of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and is unquestionably passionate about modernizing our military and supporting the brave patriots like himself who serve our nation.
I will support his confirmation and look forward to working with him to rebuild our military and advance President Trump’s peace through strength agenda.” Hegseth’s confirmation underscores the deep divisions within the Republican Party, with high-profile defections signaling growing unease about Trump’s picks for key roles. As the administration barrels forward, these early battles may set the tone for a tumultuous term in Washington.