Pete Hegseth is surrounded by his spouse Jennifer Rauchet and his 7 kids as he’s sworn in as the brand new US Secretary of Protection by Vice-President JD Vance on the Eisenhower Govt Workplace Constructing on the White Home in Washington, DC, on January 25, 2025. Agence France-Presse
WASHINGTON — Former infantryman and Fox Information character Pete Hegseth was sworn in as US protection secretary Saturday, having narrowly received Senate affirmation regardless of allegations of alcohol abuse, sexual misconduct and considerations over inexperience.
Pledging to “restore the warrior ethos” within the Pentagon, Hegseth briefly remarks thanked President Donald Trump for choosing him and Vice President JD Vance for his tie-breaking vote within the Senate that allowed his nomination to move.
Vance’s vote Friday night was solely the second time in historical past a vice chairman needed to intervene to avoid wasting a cupboard nominee and got here after three Republicans — together with former chief Mitch McConnell — solid ballots in opposition to Hegseth.
READ: Hegseth confirmed as Trump’s protection secretary: White affirmative motion
The razor-edge end result underscored considerations about Hegseth, who takes over the Pentagon with warfare raging in Ukraine, the Center East unstable regardless of ceasefires in Lebanon and Gaza, and as Trump expands the army’s position in safety on the US-Mexico border.
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The 44-year-old is a former Military Nationwide Guard officer and Bronze Star recipient with earlier deployments to Iraq, Afghanistan and Guantanamo Bay in Cuba.
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Till just lately, he labored as a co-host for Fox Information — one in every of Trump’s favored tv channels.
Hegseth has a combative media character, fierce loyalty and telegenic seems — frequent hallmarks in Trump’s entourage.
Supporters say Hegseth’s deployments give him the perception to run the Protection Division higher than extra skilled officers who would usually be thought of for the job.
READ: What to find out about Pete Hegseth, Trump’s choose to be protection secretary
Talking Saturday after his swearing in, Hegseth mentioned he was considering of “the blokes that I served with on the battlefield, the women and men who I locked shields with and put my life on the road with.”
“We’re going to consider these warriors with each single choice that we make,” he mentioned.
In confirming him, Republicans brushed apart his lack of expertise main a corporation anyplace close to the scale of the Protection Division — the nation’s largest employer with some three million personnel.
In addition they authorized Hegseth regardless of allegations of economic mismanagement at veterans’ nonprofits the place he beforehand labored, stories of extreme ingesting, and allegations that he sexually assaulted a lady in California.
Trump has stood by him, telling reporters on Friday that he’s “a really, superb man.”
Requested throughout his affirmation listening to final week about criticism he has confronted, Hegseth mentioned there was a “coordinated smear marketing campaign” in opposition to him, and that he’s “not an ideal individual, however redemption is actual.”
The thrice-married father of seven has ceaselessly proclaimed his Christian religion, and started his remarks Saturday by saying “All reward and glory to God, his will probably be performed.”
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He credited his profitable nomination to “Jesus and Jenny” — his spouse.