Keep the word expected in the back of your mind as the situation remains fluid. For now, though, it appears Hegseth has the votes necessary for final confirmation which is expected to occur sometime today. The vote could happen sometime around 9 pm ET but is likely to get pushed back even further.
Aside from Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and maybe Tulsi Gabbard, Hegseth has faced some of the steepest criticism and pushback from Democrats but also from some weak-kneed Republicans beholden to the defense industrial complex.
There was fear Hegseth wouldn’t make it out of committee but thanks to Senator Mitch McConnell, his nomination is now heading to the full Senate for a final vote, according to Politico:
Pete Hegseth came one step closer to leading the Pentagon on Thursday despite new allegations against him and last-minute Republican defections.
The Senate voted 51-49 to cut off debate on Hegseth’s nomination, setting up a final vote that could come as late as this weekend.
All Democrats opposed moving forward with his confirmation. Two Republicans, Sens. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Susan Collins of Maine also came out in opposition to Hegseth.
Murkowski and Collins voted to pass along nearly every one of Joe Biden’s mental patients into various cabinet positions but can’t bring themselves to support a warfighter to head the Department of Defense. No joke, it’s Hegseth’s “experience and perspective” they’re worried most about:
Murkowski cited “significant concerns” with the former Fox News host, including a lack of experience, allegations of personal misconduct and comments opposing women in combat roles. Collins, who previously expressed concerns about the allegations against him, said Hegseth doesn’t “have the experience and perspective” for the job.
What “experience and perspective” are they looking for? The kind that botches a major military withdrawal resulting in the death of 13 servicemembers? Is that the kind of experience Murkowski and Collins think we need?
Come primary season, let us all remember that Senators Susan Collins & Lisa Murkowski voted for this, while opposing Pete Hegseth:
pic.twitter.com/UqPUnRybLU— Jillian Anderson (@Jillie_Alexis) January 24, 2025
In the end, it probably won’t matter as Hegseth appears to be hovering around 51 votes assuming that McConnell votes in favor of him when it comes down the wire. Even if McConnell bails, which is a high probability, a 50-50 split would give Vice President JD Vance his first opportunity to play tie-breaker and send Hegseth to lead the Pentagon.
Sen. Bill Hagerty went scorched earth on the media and his Senate colleagues for smearing Hegseth and denigrating his qualifications:
🔥HOLY SMOKES: Sen. Bill Hagerty just went scorched earth on the Dem/legacy media coordinated smear campaign on Hegseth:
“The American people are sick and tired of the deception stemming from this alliance between the Democrat Party and the so-called mainstream media."
"This is… pic.twitter.com/3JUhIim19V
— Western Lensman (@WesternLensman) January 23, 2025
If Republicans were to cave, as Murkowski and Collins are doing, it would leave a blueprint to derail other Trump nominees moving forward. Hegseth, arguably, has some baggage in his past, no one’s disputing that. It’s the attempt to use that baggage falsely and smear him with disproven allegations that appear to be straight out of the Kavanaugh playbook.
The GOP needs to stand firm on this one and the rest of Trump’s nominees moving forward. If there is a crack in the wall, Democrats will exploit it. The American people voted overwhelmingly for Trump’s vision and leadership, Murkowski and Collins would be well-served to respect that outcome and vote for Hegseth.
The final confirmation vote is not expected until around 9 pm ET this evening. Here’s a live stream from Fox Live Now which will show the vote live when it happens:
Donate Now to Support Election Central
- Help defend independent journalism
- Directly support this website and our efforts