Pete Hegseth, Donald Trump’s controversial selection for US defence secretary, has been confirmed for the job.
Three Republican senators – Susan Collins of Maine, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, and Mitch McConnell of Kentucky – joined Democrats to oppose his nomination.
It’s the second time in historical past a vice chairman has damaged a tie for a cupboard nominee. In 2017, then vice chairman Mike Pence was known as in to interrupt a tie to verify Mr Trump’s earlier choose of Betsy DeVos as training secretary.
Mr Trump praised Mr Hegseth shortly after the vote, saying he would make a “great secretary of defence” in a put up on Reality Social.
Nevertheless, in the course of the affirmation listening to, which was disrupted by three protesters, Mr Hegseth was accused of missing the competence for the job.
Hours earlier than the vote, Democrat after Democrat took to the Senate flooring to object.
Senator Chris Murphy stated in the course of the debate there are few Trump nominees as “dangerously and woefully unqualified as Hegseth”.
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Mr Hegseth is essentially the most divisive candidate to clinch the US army’s prime job.
He’s a controversial selection due to previous statements and actions, together with allegations of sexual assault – which he has denied – extreme ingesting, and derisive views about girls in army fight roles.
However most Senate Republicans fell into line to defend Mr Hegseth.
Senate majority chief John Thune stated Mr Hegseth, as a veteran of the Military Nationwide Guard who served excursions in Iraq and Afghanistan, “will bring a warrior’s perspective” to the put up.
Senator Jack Reed of Rhode Island, the highest Democrat on the armed companies committee, nonetheless, stated in an announcement he would watch the brand new defence secretary “like a hawk” and “demand accountability”.
Mr Hegseth steps into the function as the brand new Trump administration has stated border safety and immigration will be a magnet for the US army.
Little is understood about his views on key overseas coverage points comparable to arming Ukraine, making ready the US army for a possible battle with China, and whether or not he would search to reduce the nation’s footprint in locations together with Syria and Iraq.
Former president Joe Biden’s defence secretary, Lloyd Austin, was confirmed by a 93-2 vote in 2021, and Jim Mattis, Mr Trump’s first defence secretary in his final administration, was confirmed by a 98-1 vote in 2017.
