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Pete Hegseth Sworn In as US Defense Secretary After Tie-Break Vote
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Above: US Vice Pres. JD Vance swears in Pete Hegseth as US secretary of defense during a ceremony in Washington, DC, US, on Jan. 25, 2025. Image copyright: Ron Sachs/CNP/Bloomberg via Getty Images
The Facts
US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth was sworn in by Vice Pres. JD Vance on Saturday, promising to restore the warrior ethos and trust, rebuild the military, and reestablish deterrence.
The ceremony took place less than 12 hours after the Senate confirmed the nomination of the combat veteran-turned-Fox News host for the position, with Vance breaking a 50-50 tie vote.
This comes as three Republican senators — Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, and Susan Collins of Maine — turned against US Pres. Donald Trump's pick, forcing the second-ever vice presidential tie-breaker for a cabinet nominee.
The Spin
Democratic narrative
Hegseth is the least-qualified nominee for the position in modern history, so it's no surprise that he became the first one to be confirmed in a tie-break vote. He lacks the competence and character to manage the military, especially as his goals run against its long-running apolitical tradition.
Republican narrative
Hegseth has all the credentials to promote real change at the Pentagon. For too long, America has relied on secretaries that built resumes working in the woke-plagued defense industry, including Trump's previous Pentagon chief Mark Esper. Republicans no longer fear opposing the radical left and the swamp.
