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Republican lawmakers celebrated Friday after nearly confirming Pete Hegseth as defense secretary.
The Senate is split 50-50 with three Republicans — Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, Susan Collins, R-Maine, and Mitch McConnell, R-Ky. – Join Democrats in opposing Hegseth’s confirmation, forcing Vice President JD Vance vote.
After Hegseth was confirmed, Republican lawmakers praised him as an “agent of change” with a “passion for change warriors.”
Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., wrote on social media platform
Pete Hegseth confirmed to lead Pentagon after VP Vance throws tiebreaker vote
Pete Hegseth testifies during the Senate Armed Services Confirmation Hearing on January 14, 2025 in Washington, DC (Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)
“He did a great job in a very contentious hearing and mastered all of his attacks,” Graham added. “He was bullish on creating a larger, more lethal force and on targeting, including Iran, America’s enemies are sensitive. Israel could not have a better friend than Pete Hegseth.”
Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, said he was “proud to vote to confirm Pete Hegseth as defense secretary.”
“He is the change agent the Department of Defense desperately needs,” Cruz said.
“We did it, America,” said Oklahoma Sen. Markwayne Mullin.
“It was an honor to fight my friend and your secdef: @petehegseth,” he wrote. “The Hegseth family are the best!”
“Yes! @petehegseth is a job man,” said Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah. “I was honored to vote for him. We just confirmed him as the next secretary of defense.”
Senator Roger Marshall wrote: “Congratulations to our new Secretary of Defense @petehegseth! Pete will bring transformational changes that will refocus our military on lethality and recruiting. I Can’t wait to see what great work he will do.”
R-tenn. “Pete Hegseth is perfectly qualified to make our military great again and achieve peace through strength,” Senator Marsha Blackburn wrote. “It’s an honor to support his nomination and I look forward to it “See him restore trust in the Department of Defense by prioritizing warfighters over bureaucrats.”
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)
R-GA. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene congratulated Hegseth on his confirmation, saying, “Every brave service member and every American is safer with you leading the Pentagon. American power is back!”
R-FLA. “Congratulations to our new Secretary of Defense,” said Rep. Anna Paulina Luna.
Meanwhile, Democrats have raised questions about Hegseth’s qualifications leading the pentagon before his confirmation.
“Would there not be Pete Hegseth, who was managing the finances of a veterans nonprofit, putting his organization out of debt to the point where he couldn’t even pay his creditors — and Republicans want to be in charge of the Pentagon’s budget? ” Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) wrote on the X before the vote.
Schumer also asked: “Is Pete Hegseth really the best Republican to lead the greatest military in the world?”
He added: “Our troops deserve better than inconsistent and unqualified men like Pete Hegseth.”
“We deserve a secretary of defense with solid experience, sound judgment and good character. Pete Hegseth does not meet the test,” said Sen. Adam Schiff, D-Calif.
Pete Hegseth during a Senate Armed Services Committee confirmation hearing, Tuesday, January 14, 2025, in Washington, DC. (Kent Nishimura/Bloomberg via 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.
