Pete Hegseth confirmed as Donald Trump's defence secretary after JD Vance casts tie-breaking vote

25 January 2025, 11:50 | Updated: 25 January 2025, 13:45

Pete Hegseth, Donald Trump's controversial choice for US defence secretary, has been confirmed for the job.

The 44-year-old ex-veteran and former Fox News host narrowly secured the top Pentagon post with vice president JD Vance casting the 51-50 tie-breaking vote.

Three Republican senators - Susan Collins of Maine, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, and Mitch McConnell of Kentucky - joined Democrats to oppose his nomination.

It is the second time in history a vice president has broken a tie for a cabinet nominee. In 2017, then vice president Mike Pence was called in to break a tie to confirm Mr Trump's previous pick of Betsy DeVos as education secretary.

Mr Trump praised Mr Hegseth shortly after the vote, saying he would make a "great secretary of defence" in a post on Truth Social.

However, during the confirmation hearing, which was disrupted by three protesters, Mr Hegseth was accused of lacking the competence for the job.

Hours before the vote, Democrat after Democrat took to the Senate floor to object.

Senator Chris Murphy said during the debate there are few Trump nominees as "dangerously and woefully unqualified as Hegseth".