Pete Hegseth expected to be next Pentagon chief – DW – 25/01/2025

The US Senate will confirm Pete Hegseth as the next Secretary of Defense on Friday.

Hegseth faces charges of heavy alcohol consumption. He has said he would stop drinking if he is in charge of the Pentagon.

A vote will take place Friday night, requiring only a simple majority to confirm Hegseth, as Republicans hold a 53-47 majority in the Senate.

However, Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Sen. Susan Collins of Maine have indicated they will vote no, meaning Republicans can only afford to lose one more objection. Vice President JD Vance could be called in to break the tie.

President Donald Trump endorsed his candidate as he left the White House to visit disaster-stricken North Carolina and Los Angeles, saying: “He’s a good man. I hope he makes it.”

However, Trump criticized Sen. Murkowski and Sen. Collins, adding, “I was surprised that Collins and Murkowski would do that.”

While Sen. Mitch McConnell has not announced how he would vote, Trump appeared to indicate that the Republican may vote no.

“And of course Mitch is always a no, I guess. Is Mitch a no?” the president asked reporters.

Hegseth has faced allegations that he sexually assaulted a woman at a Republican convention in California, though he has denied the allegations and said the meeting was consensual. He later paid $50,000 (€47,602) to the woman.

Recently, his former sister-in-law said in a statement that Hegseth abused his second wife to the point that she feared for her safety.

Hegseth has denied the allegation, and in the divorce proceedings neither Hegseth nor the woman claimed to have been subjected to domestic violence.

Hegseth’s earlier comments that women should have no role in military combat also drew particular concern on Capitol Hill, including from lawmakers who served themselves.

However, Hegseth has since tempered those views when he met with senators during the confirmation process.

km/wdm (Reuters, AP, AFP, dpa)