Pete Hegseth confirmed as US defence secretary in tie-breaking vote

Pete Hegseth, Donald Trump’s nominee for US defence secretary, was confirmed by the Senate late on Friday night, after facing misconduct allegations that nearly derailed his confirmation. Vice-President JD Vance… The post Pete Hegseth confirmed as US defence secretary in tie-breaking vote first appeared on CONFIDENCE NEWS NG.

Pete Hegseth confirmed as US defence secretary in tie-breaking vote


Click the link to join the registration on WhatsApp: https://chat.whatsapp.com/KThkuZlWaTcCu3iJHGBmLM


Click the link to join the registration on WhatsApp: https://chat.whatsapp.com/KThkuZlWaTcCu3iJHGBmLM


Click the link to join the registration on WhatsApp: https://chat.whatsapp.com/KThkuZlWaTcCu3iJHGBmLM

Pete Hegseth, Donald Trump’s nominee for US defence secretary, was confirmed by the Senate late on Friday night, after facing misconduct allegations that nearly derailed his confirmation.

Vice-President JD Vance cast the tie-breaking vote in Hegseth’s favour, after three Republican senators – including former Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell – voted against him.

During Hegseth’s confirmation hearing, he faced multiple questions about an allegation of sexual assault, which he has denied, as well as infidelity and drinking.

The former combat veteran and one-time Fox News television host will oversee a department of some three million employees and a $849bn (£695bn) budget.

Four Republicans would have needed to join the 47 Democratic and independent senators who voted against Hegseth for his nomination to be defeated.

McConnell’s surprise vote left the Senate in a 50-50 deadlock before Vance arrived to cast the tie-breaker.

Explaining his vote, McConnell issued a bruising statement saying Hegseth was unprepared to lead a vast department of three million people while managing a huge budget and co-ordinating with global allies.

The role of defence secretary is “a daily test with staggering consequences for the security of the American people”, McConnell said. “Mr. Hegseth has failed, as yet, to demonstrate that he will pass this test.”

In confirming Hegseth, Vance becomes only the second vice-president in US history to break a tie to confirm a cabinet nominee. Trump’s previous vice-president, Mike Pence, became the first when he cast the deciding vote to confirm Betsy DeVos as education secretary in 2017.

“Warfighting, lethality, meritocracy, standards, and readiness. That’s it. That is my job,” Hegseth said during the confirmation hearing earlier this month.

Democratic senators questioned Hegseth, a military veteran, about his qualifications to lead one of the nation’s largest agencies.

But many Republicans, including Trump, have maintained their support for Hegseth.

Mississippi Senator Roger Wicker, who is chair of the Senate’s armed services committee, defended Hegseth during the hearing and voted in favour of his confirmation.

He said: “Pete Hegseth is ready to put forward the program of President Donald Trump, and he has satisfied me that he will be a change agent in the Department of Defense and that he’s the person we need.

“He’s the president’s choice, and we owe it to this commander in chief to put him in this position, unless he’s not qualified for the office.”

Hegseth, 44, a veteran of the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, later worked at Fox. He has little of the traditional experience expected for a national security cabinet position – a role typically filled by senior civil servants, experienced politicians, generals and high-level executives.

Hegseth also was asked during the hearing, particularly by female senators, about his previous comments that women should not serve in combat roles. He responded that his concern was not women serving in combat, but in maintaining a certain standard in the US military.

His confirmation process was overshadowed by allegations of misconduct. He was accused of sexually assaulting an unnamed women in 2017 in a Monterey, California, hotel room. He has denied the accusation repeatedly.

The newly confirmed defence secretary also faced allegations of excessive drinking, including at work events, and infidelity in his previous two marriages.

“I am not a perfect person, but redemption is real,” he said during the hearing.

Earlier this week, he was accused of alcohol and spousal abuse in a sworn affidavit given to a congressional committee by his former sister-in-law. Hegseth’s lawyer denied the allegations.

For Alaska Senator Lisa Murkowski, a Republican who voted against confirmation on Friday, past allegations helped swayed their vote.

In a statement released days before the vote, she said his past behaviour, “demonstrates a lack of judgment that is unbecoming of someone who would lead our armed forces”.

Meanwhile, Maine Senator Susan Collins, another Republican who voted against Hegseth, said she was “concerned that he does not have the experience and perspective necessary to succeed in the job”.

The post Pete Hegseth confirmed as US defence secretary in tie-breaking vote first appeared on CONFIDENCE NEWS NG.

What's Your Reaction?

like

dislike

love

funny

angry

sad

wow

Keep advertising to get more people

You could reach thousands of more people for every ₦1,000 you spend. https://doacweb.com/advertising

Adverts on doacWeb can be informative, educative or persuasive in nature.

doacWeb Ads is always directed at a broad audience (reaching thousands of people day by day), not few individuals — it deliver your advert to the target audience at the same time. Putting your offer in front of the right people — who have the money and interest in what you sell.

doacWeb Advertising gives you advantage as adverts passes through https://doacweb.com to the internet, reaching millions of people over the internet, and to grow your audience.

Grow your business, Be known, Boost your visibility, Drive engagements, Get new customers and Increase sales.

doacWeb acts as a global advertising media, to let people — individuals — and businesses, to promote and reach more interested people.

Get Started.

WhatsApp: 09031633831

Email: info@doacweb.com
Keep advertising to get more people

You could reach thousands of more people for every ₦1,000 you spend. https://doacweb.com/advertising

Adverts on doacWeb can be informative, educative or persuasive in nature.

doacWeb Ads is always directed at a broad audience (reaching thousands of people day by day), not few individuals — it deliver your advert to the target audience at the same time. Putting your offer in front of the right people — who have the money and interest in what you sell.

doacWeb Advertising gives you advantage as adverts passes through https://doacweb.com to the internet, reaching millions of people over the internet, and to grow your audience.

Grow your business, Be known, Boost your visibility, Drive engagements, Get new customers and Increase sales.

doacWeb acts as a global advertising media, to let people — individuals — and businesses, to promote and reach more interested people.

Get Started.

WhatsApp: 09031633831

Email: info@doacweb.com
Keep advertising to get more people

You could reach thousands of more people for every ₦1,000 you spend. https://doacweb.com/advertising

Adverts on doacWeb can be informative, educative or persuasive in nature.

doacWeb Ads is always directed at a broad audience (reaching thousands of people day by day), not few individuals — it deliver your advert to the target audience at the same time. Putting your offer in front of the right people — who have the money and interest in what you sell.

doacWeb Advertising gives you advantage as adverts passes through https://doacweb.com to the internet, reaching millions of people over the internet, and to grow your audience.

Grow your business, Be known, Boost your visibility, Drive engagements, Get new customers and Increase sales.

doacWeb acts as a global advertising media, to let people — individuals — and businesses, to promote and reach more interested people.

Get Started.

WhatsApp: 09031633831

Email: info@doacweb.com