FULL REMARKS: Pete Hegseth sworn in as U.S. Protection Secretary
The Senate voted to substantiate President Donald Trump’s nominee, Pete Hegseth, as protection secretary on after a high-tempered battle to sway lawmakers in his favor that was virtually derailed by accusations about his conduct.
WASHINGTON – Pete Hegseth was sworn in Saturday because the nation’s twenty ninth secretary of protection, shortly becoming a member of President Trump’s Cupboard after a dramatic late-night vote within the Senate put in him because the Pentagon’s chief.
The oath from Vice President JD Vance came about within the Eisenhower Govt Workplace Constructing with Hegseth’s spouse, Jennifer Rauchet, at his aspect and Republican senators trying on. The ceremony got here lower than 12 hours after Vance broke a 50-50 tie within the Senate to narrowly seal Hegseth’s affirmation.
What they’re saying:
In short remarks, Hegseth outlined what he stated had been his guiding ideas: “Restore the warrior ethos in every thing that we do, rebuild our army and reestablish deterrence.”
RELATED: Pete Hegseth confirmed as Trump’s protection secretary
“We don’t wish to battle wars,” he added. “We wish to deter them … and we wish to finish them responsibly. But when we have to battle them, we’re going to deliver overwhelming and decisive power to shut with and destroy the enemy and produce our boys house.”
He thanked Vance for his tiebreaking vote and joked that his youngsters had been pleased their father “received in time beyond regulation.”
U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance (L) swears in Secretary of Protection Pete Hegseth alongside his spouse Jennifer Rauchet within the Indian Treaty Room within the Eisenhower Govt Workplace Constructing on January 25, 2025 in Washington, DC. (Photograph by Kent Nishimura/
“It’s the honor of a lifetime, sir, to serve below you,” Hegseth stated, in thanking Trump, who was in Las Vegas on Saturday.
Later, in an emailed message to the American army, he stated “we’ll stay the strongest and most deadly power on the earth” and he singled out the wants “to discourage aggression within the Indo-Pacific by Communist China … and reorient to key threats. We are going to stand by our allies — and our enemies are on discover.”
Hegseth narrowly confirmed
The unusually slim affirmation for a protection secretary got here after questions from members in each events over Hegseth’s {qualifications} to guide the army, particularly amid allegations of heavy alcohol use and aggressive conduct towards girls.
What’s subsequent:
For Hegseth, the challenges forward are steep, as he takes cost of a sprawling forms at a time of extreme challenges across the globe.
RELATED: How does Pete Hegseth’s expertise evaluate to earlier protection secretaries?
He enters workplace with far much less expertise than trendy protection secretaries earlier than him, acknowledging throughout his affirmation listening to that he’ll have to construct an skilled staff as he settles into the job. “I need smarter and extra succesful folks round me than me, and you’ll get that on the division,” he stated in his testimony.
Dems’ assail Hegseth’s {qualifications} for Pentagon as GOP coalesces round nominee
Protection Secretary nominee Pete Hegseth confronted a contentious affirmation listening to earlier than a Senate committee on Tuesday. Who had the heavier burden: Hegseth, making his case for the highly effective job despite zero authorities expertise — or Democrats, seeking to derail one in all President-elect Trump’s extra controversial nominees? Jim Lokay discusses that and extra with Tom LoBianco from 24Sight.Information on “The Ultimate 5.”
Hegseth additionally lacks the broad bipartisan assist that almost all have dropped at the position. Each Senate Democrat voted towards Hegseth’s affirmation, as did three Republicans deeply skeptical of his {qualifications} for the job.
Including to the acrimony, Hegseth refused to fulfill with any Democrats earlier than affirmation, breaking from custom.
Hardly ever has a Cupboard nominee confronted such wide-ranging issues about his expertise — having been a fight veteran, veterans advocate and Fox Information host — in addition to conduct as Hegseth, significantly for such a high-profile position atop the U.S. army.
However the Republican-led Senate was decided to substantiate Hegseth and spherical out Trump’s high nationwide safety staff.
The opposite aspect:
Democrats, the minority within the Senate, had helped verify Secretary of State Marco Rubio and CIA Director John Ratcliffe in bipartisan votes. However they fiercely opposed Hegseth, with even the highest Democrat on the Armed Providers Committee refusing to assist him.
Reacting to the vote, Senate Democratic chief Charles Schumer of New York stated Republicans have “entrusted essentially the most highly effective army on the earth to somebody with no expertise, horrible judgment and severe flaws of character.”
“I hope for the sake of our troops and the nice of our nation that he can finally develop into the job,” Schumer stated on the Senate flooring.
Three Republicans — Sens. Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska — additionally voted towards Hegseth, questioning his {qualifications} for the job.
Hegseth confronted allegations that he sexually assaulted a girl at a Republican convention in California, although he has denied the claims and stated the encounter was consensual. He later paid $50,000 to the girl.
Protection Secreatary nominee Pete Hegseth grilled on Capitol Hill
President-elect Donald Trump’s choose for secretary of protection, Pete Hegseth, confronted his Senate affirmation hearings Tuesday. The listening to was held with senators questioning whether or not the previous fight veteran and TV information present host is match to guide the U.S. army.
Hegseth additionally had promised throughout his affirmation hearings that he wouldn’t drink whereas on the job, had been he to be confirmed.
In the meantime, his opposition to girls in fight turned a problem after Trump introduced his alternative in November. However, within the face of questions from Congress, Hegseth appeared to shifted.
Requested in regards to the problem on the “Megyn Kelly Present” in early December, Hegseth stated he cares solely that army requirements are maintained. Ladies serve in fight, he stated, and, “if we’ve the proper normal and ladies meet that normal, roger. Let’s go.”
Hegseth instructed senators that he helps girls within the army however desires to evaluation requirements to ensure they aren’t lowered to accommodate girls.
On the swearing-in ceremony, a query directed to Hegseth about why girls within the armed providers ought to belief him was answered by Vance.
“All folks in our armed providers ought to belief him as a result of he appears out for them and he’s going to battle for them,” Vance stated.
The Supply: The Related Press contributed to this report. The knowledge on this story additionally got here from a number of sources, together with statements made throughout Pete Hegseth’s swearing-in ceremony, his remarks to the press and army personnel, Senate affirmation hearings, and public reactions from political figures like Vice President JD Vance, Senate Democratic chief Charles Schumer, and different senators. This story was reported from Los Angeles.
