Birds fly exterior the US Capitol on January 18, 2025 (Photograph by Allison ROBBERT / AFP)
WASHINGTON, United States — The US Senate appeared poised Friday to narrowly verify former Fox Information host Peter Hegseth for protection secretary, with opponents saying Donald Trump’s choose has nowhere close to the expertise for the massive job and a disturbing historical past of heavy ingesting and home abuse.
Hegseth’s resume is so skinny and his record of alleged private points so lengthy that he makes an uncommon choose to steer the world’s largest nuclear-armed navy with about 2.9 million workers and an $850 billion funds.
He has by no means led a big group. He served as a significant within the Nationwide Guard however is best identified for his work till lately as a number on Trump-friendly Fox Information.
After his nomination, a slew of damaging testimony emerged about previous heavy ingesting, accusations of abusive conduct towards his second spouse, and one case of sexual assault.
Hegseth denies any wrongdoing and Trump has stood by him, telling reporters Friday: “Pete’s a really, superb man.”
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Hegseth has a combative media character, fierce loyalty, and telegenic seems to be — widespread hallmarks in Trump’s entourage.
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Supporters say his deployments in Afghanistan and Iraq give him the perception to run the Pentagon higher than the highest brass sometimes thought-about for the job.
In his Senate hearings and media appearances, Hegseth has aggressively pushed residence the necessity to make the US navy much less “woke” and extra “deadly.” He has additionally targeted on ending what he says has been decreasing of requirements to assist girls enter the navy.
He calls the allegations of improper private conduct towards him “smears” however has mentioned he’ll cease ingesting alcohol if confirmed to move the Pentagon.
Difficult Senate math
Republicans maintain solely a skinny majority within the Senate and two of the social gathering’s 53 senators — Susan Collins and Lisa Murkowski — are anticipated to vote towards Hegseth, becoming a member of what is anticipated to be a unanimous “no” from Democrats.
That will nonetheless permit Hegseth to squeak by. If yet another Republican voted towards, it will make 50-50 — with Trump’s vp, JD Vance, coming to interrupt the tie.
On Thursday, the Senate confirmed John Ratcliffe to move the CIA, whereas a vote on Kristi Noem’s nomination to steer Homeland Safety is anticipated Sunday morning.
Focus then shifts to Treasury nominee Scott Bessent and Trump’s choose for Transport, Sean Duffy.
These votes usually are not anticipated to be tough for the Republicans.
Nonetheless, the divisions uncovered by Hegseth’s nomination will flare up once more subsequent week when three extra of Trump’s most contentious nominees enter the highlight.
Kash Patel — Trump’s choose to steer the FBI — goes earlier than the Senate Judiciary Committee on Thursday, the identical day as Tulsi Gabbard’s listening to in entrance of the Senate Intelligence Committee.
Each are dealing with main questions over their character, judgment, and former positions, together with Gabbard’s echoing of Kremlin speaking factors on Ukraine. They don’t seem to be anticipated to get any Democratic help.
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Thursday is prone to be a day of drama because the Senate holds the primary of two scheduled affirmation hearings for Trump’s Well being Secretary nominee Robert F Kennedy Jr, who’s prone to be grilled on his anti-vaccine statements and embrace of different conspiracy theories.
