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R-Ky. Senator Mitch McConnell was one of three Republicans to vote against Pete Hegseth on Friday. Trump administration.
Other Republican “no” votes came from Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, and Susan Collins, R-Maine, forcing Vice President J.D. Vance to break a 50-50 tie to confirm President Donald Trump’s choice to lead the Pentagon.
“The most important Cabinet official in any administration is the Secretary of Defense,” McConnell wrote, explaining his opposition to Hegseth. “Today’s position is even more important in the face of the most serious threat to U.S. national security interests since World War II.”
“Major adversaries are moving more closely to undermine U.S. interests everywhere,” he said. “And U.S. military capabilities and defense industry capabilities are increasingly inadequate to deter or prevail in a major conflict with China or Russia, especially “It takes into account the real risk of simultaneous challenges from Iran or other adversaries such as Iran.”
Pete Hegseth confirmed to lead Pentagon after VP Vance throws tiebreaker vote
Sen. Mitch McConnell, r-ky. (Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)
Former Fox News host Hegseth fight in the army and his leadership skills.
Hegseth was married three times and admitted he was a “serial liar” before becoming a Christian and marrying his current wife Jenny. He also initially said he was against women in combat, then later said he was only against holding women to a different standard than men in combat. Hegseth has also denied sexual assault allegations and said he would abstain from alcohol as defense secretary.
McConnell said the “dust” surrounding Hegseth’s military service also failed to distinguish the nominee from his multiple predecessors over the past decade. Nor is it a prerequisite for success. The secretary, who had outstanding combat experience and time in combat, failed during the war. Work. “
“Effectively managing nearly 3 million military and civilian personnel, an annual budget of nearly $1 trillion, and alliances and partnerships around the world are tested daily with tremendous consequences for the American people and our global interests,” the senators said. “Mr. Heggs has so far failed to demonstrate that he will pass this test. However, as he has served, the consequences of failure are as high as ever.”
Moderate Republican Murkowski won’t support Trump’s Hegseth to be defense secretary
Pete Hegseth testifies during the Senate Armed Services Confirmation Hearing on January 14, 2025 in Washington, DC (Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)
McConnell stressed that Hegseth, in his testimony before the Armed Services Committee, “does not believe that the reality” is that the United States “faces coordinated aggression by adversaries who succumb to attacks that undermine American security and prosperity.” Order”.
“President Trump is right to call on NATO allies to spend more on our collective defense. However, the nominee who will be tasked with leading this effort does not even commit to expanding U.S. defense investments beyond the Biden administration’s budget request ,” McConnell said.
The senator also said Hegseth’s testimony lacked “substantial observations about how to defend Taiwan or the Philippines from Chinese attack, or even whether he believed the United States should do so.” McConnell said Hegseth failed to “elaborate on any strategic vision to counter the most serious long-term threats emanating from” from china.
Pete Hegseth after 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 the lack of “substantive discussion” that “opposes our adversaries’ alignment with deeper alliances and broader defense industry cooperation.”
“That’s certainly going to change,” McConnell said. “As the 29th Secretary of Defense, Mr. Hegseth will be immediately tested by the ongoing conflicts of Russian aggression in Europe and Iranian-backed terror in the Middle East. – Risking risk further compromising the readiness of our forces.”
“By all accounts, brave young men and women join the military with the understanding that it is an elite establishment,” he added. “As long as legitimate civilian leadership can insist that there must be a firewall between service members and politics, this valuable Trust will last. Athletic governments have failed in this fundamental task, but restoration of “warrior culture” will not come from trading one culture of warriors for another.”
