Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., Was one of the three Republicans who voted against Pete Hegseeth on Friday, which was closely confirmed as Minister of Defense in the New Trump administration.
The other Republican “no” votes came from moderate Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska and Susan Collins, R-Maine, forcing vice-president JD Vance to break the 50-50 draw to confirm President Donald Trump’s choice to confirm The Pentagon in Leiden.
“The most consistent cabinet officer in every government is the Minister of Defense,” wrote McConnell, in which he explained his opposition against Hegseeth. “In the light of the most serious threats for American national security interests since the Second World War, this position is even more important today.”
“Big opponents work closer together to undermine American interests around the world,” he said. “And the military capacities of America and the industrial capacity of the defense are always insufficient to deter or prevail in a major conflict with China or Russia, especially given the real risk of simultaneous challenges of other opponents such as Iran or North Korea . “
Pete Hegseeth confirmed that the Pentagon leads after VP VANCE BREAKING vote
Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-KY., Takes a question from a reporter during a press conference after the weekly Senate Republican policy lunch in the US Capitol on November 19, 2024 in Washington, DC, DC (Andrew Harnik/Getty images)
Hegseeth, a former Fox News -Gastheer, had confronted with questions prior to his confirmation about his infidelity, allegations of sexual violence and excessive drinking, his earlier comments against women employed in combat roles in the army And his leadership options.
Married three times, Hegseeth admitted that he was a “serial cheater” before he became a Christian and married his current wife, Jenny. He also originally said that he opposed women in the fight before he later said that he only opposed standards for women in the fight that are different from those for men. Hegseeth has also denied the accusations of sexual violence and said that he would abstain from alcohol as Minister of Defense.
McConnell said that “dust on boots” in reference to the military service of Hegseeth “does not even fail to distinguish this nominee from several predecessors of the last decade. Neither is it a condition for success. Secretaress function.”
“Effective management of almost 3 million military and civil personnel, an annual budget of almost $ 1 trillion, and alliances and partnerships around the world is a daily test with astonishing consequences for the safety of the American people and our global interests,” said The senator, “said the senator.” Mr. Hegseeth has so far failed to show that he will pass this test. But while he takes the office, the consequences of failure are as high as they have ever been. “
Moderate Republican Murkowski will not support Trump that Hegseeth has chosen for Defense Secretary
Pete Hegseeth testifies during his confirmation hearing of his Senate -Rearmend services on Capitol Hill on January 14, 2025 in Washington, DC (Andrew Harnik/Getty images)
McConnell emphasized that Hegseeth, in his testimony for the Armed Services Committee, “did not take this reality into account” that the US “have to deal with coordinated aggression of opponents bowed to the shattering of the order underlying the American safety and prosperity. “
“President Trump rightly called NATO to spend more on our collective defense. But the candidate who would have been responsible for leading that effort would not even be committed to increasing the defense investments of America, Apart from the low counter set by the budget requests of the Biden administration, “said McConnell.
The senator also said that Hegseeth’s testimony was missing “substantial observations about how Taiwan or the Philippines to defend against a Chinese attack, or even whether he thinks the United States should do this.” McConnell said that Hegseeth did not fail “to articulate a strategic vision in detail for dealing with the most serious long -term threat” From China.
Pete Hegseeth at the completion of his confirmation hearing for the Senate Committee for armed services, in the Capitol in Washington, Tuesday, January 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Ben Curtis)
McConnell also noticed a lack of a “substantive discussion” about “combating the coordination of our opponents with deeper alliance relationships and more extensive industrial employees of the defense.”
“This is of course due to change,” said McConnell. “As the 29th Minister of Defense, Mr. Hegseeth will be immediately tested by continuous conflicts caused by Russian aggression in Europe and terror-supported terror in the Middle East. He will have to struggle with an unfinished FY25 credit process that-all his intervention- Risks that further harm the willingness.
“According to all the stories, brave young men and women come to the army with the understanding that it is a meritocracy,” he added. “This valuable trust will only maintain as long as the legal civil leadership must be what a firewall should be between service teams and politics. The BIDEN administration has failed with this fundamental task. But the recovery of the ‘warrior culture’ does not come from trading one set of culture fighters.
