WASHINGTON – On Friday, the Senate narrowly confirmed Pete Hegseth as the Secretary of Defense, marking a victory for President Donald Trump’s new administration. Hegseth, who is 44 years old, overcame various allegations targeting his character, including claims of sexual assault and incidents related to heavy drinking and mistreatment of women.

A former Fox News personality and military veteran, Hegseth gained the backing of nearly all Republican senators, securing a 51-50 vote, with Vice President JD Vance casting the deciding vote. Vance, a previous Senator from Ohio, joked on X as the voting progressed, “I thought my voting days in the Senate were over,” punctuating his post with a laugh-cry emoji.

The only Republican senators to join the Democrats in opposing Hegseth were Lisa Murkowski from Alaska, Susan Collins from Maine, and Mitch McConnell from Kentucky, the former Senate Republican leader known for his past conflicts with Trump. Hegseth attended the vote in person, which is not the usual practice.

In a statement, McConnell emphasized the great responsibility of leading the U.S. Armed Forces. He noted that managing 3 million personnel within a $1 trillion budget involves “daily challenges” crucial for the nation’s safety and global interests.

“Mr. Hegseth has yet to prove he can handle this responsibility,” McConnell remarked. “The stakes of failure are at their highest as he steps into this role.”

Sen. Roger Wicker, the Republican chair of the Armed Services Committee that oversaw Hegseth’s confirmation, admitted he was aware of McConnell’s unexpected vote against Hegseth but hadn’t reviewed the former leader’s statement, noting he had heard it was “explicit.”

Sen. Jack Reed, the ranking Democrat on the Armed Services Committee and an opponent of Hegseth’s confirmation from the start, acknowledged the outcome but stated that he would keep a close watch on Hegseth, just as he had with previous secretaries from both parties.

“I will insist on accountability,” Reed asserted in his statement.

Vance did not respond when asked about his message for McConnell or other Republicans who voted against Hegseth.

Taking Command of the Largest Government Agency

Hegseth will now oversee the largest government agency, which comprises 3 million service members and civilians with an $850 billion budget under the Pentagon.

Hegseth’s path to confirmation appeared shaky due to serious allegations about his past, including claims of intoxicated outbursts, which were presented through signed testimony from his former sister-in-law. She alleged that he had severe issues with drinking, including incidents where he was so inebriated he passed out and vomited, culminating in intimidation towards his ex-wife to the extent that she would hide from him. His ex-wife also provided testimony regarding Hegseth’s drinking to the FBI, which subsequently briefed Wicker and Reed, the committee’s Republican and Democratic leads, respectively.

Additionally, Hegseth’s nomination faced scrutiny from an eight-year-old sexual assault accusation, stemming from an incident at a conservative convention in California, where he settled with the accuser to prevent her from speaking out about the event.

Concerns regarding Hegseth’s drinking also played a significant role in the nomination debate. He was dismissed from a veterans’ organization due to issues related to alcohol, and reports indicated he was seen drinking or appearing intoxicated while working at Fox News, according to a report from the New Yorker published in December.

In his confirmation hearing before the Senate Armed Services Committee, Democrats challenged Hegseth on his previous comments expressing opposition to women serving in combat roles.

While he attempted to revise his stance before the vote, Democrats pointed to statements he made on a podcast shortly before his nomination, where he outright declared, “I’m straight up just saying we should not have women in combat roles.” Such statements sparked significant backlash from women veterans and legislators, who cautioned that excluding women from these roles could severely impact military effectiveness.

Unlike past Defense Secretaries, Hegseth’s limited governmental background is notable, but his critique of military leadership—that it has strayed from its core focus on warfare in favor of diversity and cultural issues—aligns with Trump’s broader political narrative against “wokeness.”