Why is President Donald Trump so committed to having the minimally qualified Pete Hegseth at the head of the Department of Defense? Trump tends to like telegenic people that he’s seen on TV. Check. Trump appears to be attracted to the super-macho war-fighting ethos,
Pete Hegseth has vowed to bring his “warrior” ethos to the Pentagon. Democrats had assailed him as unfit for the job, and his confirmation came down to Vice President JD Vance serving as tiebreaker.
Pete Hegseth was confirmed after Vice President JD Vance cast a tie-breaking vote in support of his nomination. See how your senators voted.
A Princeton and Harvard-educated former combat veteran, Hegseth went on to make a career at Fox News, where he hosted a weekend show. Trump tapped him as the defense secretary to lead an organization with nearly 2.1 million service members, about 780,000 civilians and a budget of $850 billion.
After being sworn-in by Vice President JD Vance, the Pentagon’s new leader addressed the Defense Department’s three million employees.
Pete Hegseth, President Donald Trump's pick to lead the Pentagon, cleared a key procedural hurdle in the Senate on Thursday to advance his nomination.
WASHINGTON – The Senate narrowly confirmed Pete Hegseth on Friday as secretary of Defense, a win for President Donald Trump's new administration after its 44-year-old nominee fended off allegations of sexual assault, public drinking and intoxication, and abusive treatment of women.
Three Republicans voted with every Democrat against Trump’s controversial pick to lead the Pentagon, forcing Vance to step in and put Hegseth over the top.
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Pete Hegseth had trouble answering a question about the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). Sen. Tammy Duckworth broached the topic during a heated Senate confirmation for Hegseth.
Pete Hegseth faced criticism for opposing women in combat, with debates highlighting physical and psychological differences between sexes and mocking feminist arguments on women in military and emergency roles.