The Senate confirmed Pete Hegseth as the nation’s Secretary of Defense in a vote held late Friday night.
With three Republicans opposing Hegseth’s nomination — including Sens. Susan Collins (R), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), and Mitch McConnell (R-KY) — Vice President J.D. Vance stepped in to break the tie.
This is only the second time in this nation’s history that the vice president has had to cast a tie breaking vote for a cabinet nominee, the first being when then Vice President Mike Pence voted to confirm Betsy DeVos as the Secretary of Education in 2017.
#BREAKING: U.S. Senate CONFIRMS Pete Hegseth to be Secretary of Defense, 51-50. @VP Vance breaks tie, second tie-breaking vote on Cabinet nominee in history. pic.twitter.com/6TiVfYQxR6
— CSPAN (@cspan) January 25, 2025
Hegseth and his family were present in the Capitol Friday night as the Senate voted on his confirmation.
Ahead of Friday’s vote, it was unclear if Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC) would vote to support Hegseth, but he shared a statement with Fox News Senior Congressional Correspondent Chad Pergram strongly backing the nominee just minutes before casting his vote.
“Pete has a unique perspective as a veteran of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and is unquestionably passionate about modernizing our military and supporting the brave patriots like himself who serve our nation,” Sen. Tillis said, in part. “I will support his confirmation and look forward to working with him to rebuild our military and advance President Trump’s peace through strength agenda.”
Maine’s Sen. Collins had clearly indicated in advance of Friday’s vote that she would not be supporting President Donald Trump’s (R) Defense Secretary nominee.
In a lengthy statement posted to X Wednesday afternoon, Collins said that she would be voting against Hegseth because she was “concerned that he does not have the experience and perspective necessary to succeed in the job.”
“I am concerned that Mr. Hegseth does not have the management experience and background that he will need in order to tackle these difficulties,” Collins said, in part. “His limited managerial experience involved running two small non-profit organizations that had decidedly mixed results.”
[RELATED: Susan Collins Says She is a ‘No’ on Trump’s Pick for Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth]
She also cited Hegseth’s prior remarks about women serving in combat roles as a reason for her decision to vote against him.
Hegseth has since clarified those remarks, explaining that he only opposes the lowering of standard for women in combat to levels that are different from those for men.
Collins also referenced another topic that came up during Hegseth’s hearing before the Senate Armed Services Committee, pointing toward his stance on the rules of engagement in combat as another reason why she decided to oppose his nomination.
A former Fox News anchor and Army combat veteran, Hegseth has earned an undergraduate degree from Princeton, as well as a Master of Public Policy from Harvard University.
Hegseth was commissioned as an infantry officer in the Army National Guard after graduating from Princeton in 2003. He deployed to Afghanistan, Iraq and Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and his military awards include two Bronze Stars and two Army Commendation Medals.
His nomination generated a flurry of negative media attention in light of reports containing allegations of alcohol abuse, sexual assault, and financial mismanagement of the veterans’ advocacy organizations that he led.
During his confirmation hearing, Hegseth said that he is not a “perfect person,” but that he has “been saved by the grace of God, by Jesus and Jenny,” his wife.
“I’m not a perfect person, but redemption is real, and God forged me in ways I know I’m prepared for,” said Hegseth. “I’m honored by the people standing and sitting behind me, and I look forward to leading this Pentagon on behalf of the warfighters,”
Senate Majority Leader John Thune has said that Hegseth will bring “will bring a warrior’s perspective” to the nation’s military as Defense Secretary.
“Gone will be the days of woke distractions,” Sen. Thune said. “The Pentagon’s focus will be on war fighting.”
“He will bring critical reforms to the Pentagon and serve our nation with distinction in these historic times,” House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) said Friday night on X.
“Congratulations to Pete Hegseth. He will make a great Secretary of Defense!” President Trump said on Truth Social following Hegseth’s confirmation.
<span class="dsq-postid" data-dsqidentifier="34417 https://www.themainewire.com/?p=34417">28 Comments
Suuusan Collllins, Your in MAGA country now – pack your bags and git the f–k out.
I just started 3 weeks ago this web income system that my friend recommended to me and I’ve gotten 2 checks for a total of $9,200… this is the best decision I made in a long time! This extra cash has changed my life in so many ways, thank you!
Here is I started_______ Rebrand.ly/homejobs25?/60
This arse clown is just another mass murdering jew lover. Trump shut down foreign funding for other countries wars except to the illegal apartheid jews occupation and Egypt.
Susan Collins is a Woke, Aroostook County Republican where diversity is classified by potato types.
Will a candidate for district 2 senate seat, please step up, She can be beaten in the primary. Her time has passed, time to take a walk in the sunshine, I wish her well and good day
Maybe if Pete had pretended to be a woman Susie would have voted for him. I hope the Maine GOP supports its base and finds us a good replacement. Let her go home and enjoy the .millions she made from insider trading. And Thune, remove her from all committees. You guys are 36 trillion in debt so it is obvious that she does not have the experience to manage appropriations.
Collins is a defense contractor tool and likes endless wars.
How many times has she been over to visit Zelensky?
Come to think of it, he used to dress in women’s clothing too like some of Biden’s nominees Collins voted yes on.
I will not support or vote for Suzie ever again. She voted for all of Biden’s picks
Good job Susie .
You just wasted your ( OUR ) vote .
You’ve successfully alienated the new President and the new Secretary of Defense .
What a great way for Maine to earn NEW friends in Washington .
We can probably count on ANY new federal support for BIW to NOW slow to a trickle .
Hegseth isn’t a Navy Guy you idiot.
He’s an Army guy
YOU HAVE STABBED THE REPUBLICAN PARTY IN THE BACK .
I will never vote for you again .
Any money from Washington to bail us out of the Janet Mills and the Augusta democrat’s financial sink hole is going to be over . Biden’s money is all gone . It’s NOT coming back . We are about to be taxed to death .
Why don’t you pack your little carpet bags and go live down in Washington where you belong .
Maine doesn’t want or need you here any longer . Your usefulness is OVER .
Your FUTURE political career in Maine ??? ….. “ maybe “….Mayor of Houlton ???
R.I.P. Susan Collins
I rarely use the c word but when I do its usually to address collins.
Maine needs a real Republican Senator. We already have one Democrat Senator who lies that he is an “independent” but who votes Demorat almost all of the time. We do not need to have a continuation of a Democrat voting Senator who “claims” to be a Republican. Let us find a real candidate to support to take Susan Collins’ place.
For someone who has been in politics for so many years, she didn’t display any political savvy in this situation. She could have easily voiced her “concerns” about Hegseth very publicly, and then said, with those concerns aside, that she acknowledges his service to his country and that he deserves the opportunity to show what he can do. And she will follow his performance accordingly and be a vocal critic if that performance falls below the high standards the American people demand and deserve. She could raise her concerns, support her party, and more importantly, protect the interests of her state (BIW contracts). Collins failed on multiple fronts.
Bobby Charles might be a great replacement for Susie
Once again, Collins demonstrates her irrelevance.
I AGREE WITH THE ROOSTER ,
There was an excellent article about Mr, Robert Charles from Wayne , HERE IN THE MAINE WIRE sometime a while ago . Seems to me that Collins might have even recommended him for something .
Collins is done . Maine republicans need TO START NOW by endorsing and funding a winning replacement for her . Sorry folks …it ain’t Billy Bob .
Let’s NOT be dragging our feet here .
Read it well Susan!
Susan Collins voter 79.9% of the time to support Obama and only 65% of the time to support Trump.
There is a reason Susan keeps getting reelected. Her loyalty is not with the Republican party. What team is Susan Collins playing for? Even to the mildly informed Susan Collins has finally blown her cover.
Yes Yes Yes
Robert B Charles from Wayne Maine
PLEASE EVERYBODY READ HIS BIO
He is the PERFECT candidate to primary and beat the RINO Collins .
And We’d be getting a two-fer .
New State Senator for Maine —-and —— an end to the Chinese Drug Triads .
BINGO …….WE HAVE A WINNER !
Primary this traitor.
“It does not take a majority to prevail…but rather an irate,tireless minority, keen on setting brushfires of freedom in the minds of men.” Sam Adam’s
Robert B Charles is in the running in my book.
The state of Maine, needs 2 new senators, as the 2 we have now, Suck, in the worse kinda way,……
Susan Collins = Democrat disguised in Republican Clothing = RINO! She is trying to survive in Maine along side her Rip Off Artist Angus. She has learned a great deal from King Angus in how to fill her pockets. Shame that she has chosen the path she has, her Farther was a very Honorable man. But, that’s what happens when you spend too much time in Washington Politics! It makes you a greedy self centered individual.
The harsh reality is that Maine voters – for whatever reason – would never elect a true Republican Senator. Not sure why, Maine used to be very conservative.
YAY. Love the drunk pussy grabbers. MAGA!!
Looks like Crash Chris Barry the white Irish nationalist wanna be has some free time in his bloated beer gut hands.
He is actively pleading with his drug induced hitler youth like followers to bring back chud and troll Maine Wire. CF. dummy below.
Joke is on Chris Crash Barry. Sweet Grass the ugly fat arse is pissed at you. You burned her long term phone number trying to be clever. You weren’t.
Hey Crash Chris Barry in Woodstock/Greenville. (??) You can’t split wood without getting hurt you fat piece of lard!? Seriously? And you went to a weed doctor??? Not yoga? Weed specialist!?! Hahaha! Loser!
Chris Crash Barry is begging his hitler youth followers to stalk, troll and post on Maine Wire.
Be advised. Maine Wire outed the hitler youth of Maine. AKA Crash Chris Barry and his queer reject friends. Stalkers be stalking and posting. I see through that angry overweight tub of lard like it’s kindergarten up in here.
https://www.irishtimes.com/culture/books/careless-whispers-how-the-german-public-used-and-abused-the-gestapo-1.2369837
So if I have this right, Maine now has two Representatives in Washington who for no good reason voted to impeach Donald Trump and would do so again given the opportunity and we have two Senators down there who for no good reason voted against the new Secretary of Defense but being the retarded Democrat state that we are we fully expect Maine’s defense contractors, especially Bath Iron Works, to continue receiving defense contracts.
Forgive me but I don’t see the sense in being this delusional.
Should Collins run again, this will force me to vote for a democrat for the first time in my life, she has forgotten who she works for and who put her there. At lease voting democrat, I’ll know what I’m getting.
think about it folks, she voted for a transgender to protect us. Swinging dicks need not apply