McConnell votes against Hegseth as Pentagon chief, forcing Vance to run tiebreaker
Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., was one of three Republicans who voted Friday against Pete Hegseth, who was narrowly confirmed as defense secretary in the new Trump administration.
Other Republicans voted “no”, moderates Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, and Susan Collins, R-Maine, forcing Vice President Vance to break a 50-50 tie to confirm Donald Trump. ·President Trump’s choice to lead the Pentagon.
“The most important Cabinet official in any administration is the Secretary of Defense,” McConnell wrote in explaining his opposition to Hegseth. “This position is even more important today in the face of the most serious threat to U.S. national security interests since World War II.”
“Major adversaries are working more closely together to harm U.S. interests around the world,” he said. “U.S. military capabilities and defense industry capabilities are increasingly inadequate to prevent or defeat a major conflict with China or Russia, especially given the There is a real risk of simultaneous challenge from other adversaries such as Iran or North Korea.”
Pete Hegseth confirmed to lead Pentagon after Vice President Vance casts tiebreaking vote
Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., answers reporters’ questions during a news conference following the weekly Senate Republican Policy Luncheon at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., Nov. 19, 2024 (Andrew Harnick/Getty Images)
Hegseth, a former Fox News host, faced questions before he was confirmed over accusations of infidelity, sexual assault and alcohol abuse, his previous comments against women serving in the military and his leadership abilities.
Hegseth, who has been married three times, admits he was a “serial liar” before becoming a Christian and marrying his current wife, Jenny. He also initially said he opposed women fighting, but later said he only objected to women fighting being held to different standards than men. Hegseth has also denied the sexual assault allegations and said he would give up drinking while serving as defense secretary.
McConnell said the “dust on his boots” when referring to Hegseth’s military service “doesn’t even distinguish this nominee from his multiple predecessors over the past decade. It’s not a prerequisite for success either.” Ministers with outstanding combat experience and time in the trenches failed in this election” job. “
“Effective management of nearly 3 million military and civilian personnel, an annual budget of nearly $1 trillion, and alliances and partnerships around the world is a daily test for the security of the American people and our global interests,” the senator said. The consequences have been staggering. “Mr. Heggs has so far failed to prove that he will pass this test. But when he takes office, the consequences of failure will be as severe as ever.”
Moderate Republican Murkowski won’t support Trump’s pick of Hegseth as defense secretary
Pete Hegseth testifies during the Senate Armed Services confirmation hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC, January 14, 2025 (Andrew Harnick/Getty Images)
McConnell stressed that Heggs’ testimony before the Armed Services Committee “failed to take into account the reality” that the United States “faces coordinated aggression from adversaries bent on undermining the order that underpins American security and prosperity.”
“President Trump is right to call on NATO allies to invest more in our collective defense. But the nominee leading this effort will not even commit to increasing U.S. defense investment beyond the lows set by the Biden administration’s budget request. standards,” McConnell said.
The senator also said Hegseth’s testimony lacked “substantial observations about how to protect Taiwan or the Philippines from Chinese attack, or even whether he believed the United States should do so.” McConnell said Heggs failed to “detail a strategic vision for dealing with the most serious long-term threat from China.”
Pete Hegseth completes his confirmation hearing before the Senate Armed Services Committee at the Capitol in Washington, Tuesday, January 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Ben Curtis)
McConnell also noted a lack of “substantive discussions” to “counter our adversaries’ alignment with our own deeper alliances and broader defense industry cooperation.”
“This is certainly due to changes,” McConnell said. “As the 29th Secretary of Defense, Mr. Hegseth will be immediately tested by the ongoing conflicts fueled by Russian aggression in Europe and Iran-backed terrorism in the Middle East. He will have to grapple with outstanding FY25 appropriations program, which would not have been completed without his intervention.
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“By all accounts, brave young men and women join the military knowing it is a meritocracy,” he added. “This precious trust can only be sustained if legitimate civilian leadership maintains the firewall between the military and politics. Go ahead. The Biden administration has failed in this fundamental task. But the restoration of “warrior culture” will not come from trading one culture of warriors for another.
