PETE HEGSETH CONFIRMED AS SECRETARY OF DEFENSE IN TIGHT, LATE-NIGHT SENATE VOTE
President Donald Trump’s controversial pick of Pete Hegseth for Secretary of Defense has been confirmed after a late-night vote on January 25, 2025. Despite being a decorated Army Veteran and popular Fox News figure, questions remained surrounding Hegseth taking the role due to previous sexual assault allegations, a history of drinking, controversial opinions about women in combat, and more.
Pete Hegseth Confirmed as Secretary of Defense
The 29th Secretary of Defense is Pete Hegseth after finally being confirmed by the Senate. Hegseth will lead The Pentagon after Vice President JD Vance broke a 50-50 tie to make Hegseth's confirmation official.
Wasting no time, Hegseth spoke about restoring the military while looking to deter military actions, with a specific nod to “aggression in the Indo-Pacific by Communist China…”
Both parties showed a lack of confidence in Hegseth to become the nation’s Defense Secretary, however, the narrow victory will have both sides of the aisle working closely together with Trump’s pick for the role.
While Hegseth is a Veteran, he still comes into the role with much less experience than other Secretaries of Defense in recent years, only adding to the uneasiness about his confirmation.
Traditionally, before being confirmed, nominees for the position will meet with politicians, including those from the other major party. Hegseth did not meet with Democrats, which only added to the issues surrounding his selection.
Even though Democrats are the minority in the Senate, they voted to help confirm Secretary of State Marco Rubio and CIA Director John Ratcliffe, however, Pete Hegseth was faced with much more scrutiny and backlash.
Who Is Pete Hegseth?
Known for hosting Fox & Friends Weekend and Fox Nation President Donald Trump has picked Army Veteran Pete Hegseth to serve as our nation’s Secretary of Defense.
The decorated military Officer has served in the National Guard and is known for his tenacity.
For years, both Hegseth and Trump have forged a relationship as the Fox personality has been an informal advisor to the President.
Still, many experts in the media, The Pentagon, and, well, in general, are surprised at the pick.
However, in Trump’s first presidential term, things didn’t go as well as they could have, with his relationships deteriorating multiple times with past picks for the role.
As Hegseth comes in with a similar mindset, views, and the necessary military experience to do the job, Trump’s pick is likely due to these factors, hoping to foster a better relationship built on loyalty.
Fox News and Conservative Views
Since Pete Hegseth has graduated from Princeton and Harvard, he has gone on to have an accomplished military career and ultimately forging a way to some of the biggest shows on Fox News.
This would actually spark his relationship with Trump and solidify Hegseth as a military expert, where he could provide first-hand insight on related topics.
Hegseth is also a published author with multiple books and has worked within multiple organizations that have helped Veterans as well as conservative politics.
This includes Vets for Freedom, his own controversial MN PAC, and Concerned Veterans for America, an advocacy group connected to the Koch brothers working to privatize the VA.
War Crimes and Impulses
In 2019, there were reports from news outlets, including CNN, claiming that Pete Hegseth privately spoke with Trump to pardon troops who were accused of various war crimes.
While many were against the move, Trump decided to do so, earning backlash from the military as well as on the international stage.
This all comes into greater perspective as Hegseth is about to have even more influence on policies and decisions Trump will make for our nation involving the U.S. military.
2017 Sexual Assault Allegations
Although he was cleared of the incident, a disturbing twist in the pick of Pete Hegseth would come on November 14, 2024, when a press release from the Monterey Police Department (MPD) confirmed that he was investigated for sexual assault.
These allegations and the California police department investigation that would come of them would find Hegseth “cleared” of any wrongdoing. However, the incident was still a bit of a shock to the Trump campaign and the public.
Hegseth’s lawyer, Tim Parlatore, spoke on the matter saying, “There was this accusation, he was cleared. There’s nothing more to it. Years ago, he didn’t do anything wrong. It shouldn’t have any bearing on his nomination or his future work in The Pentagon.”
The incident in question are allegations that stem from the Hyatt Regency Monterey Hotel and Spa on Del Monte Golf Course, in Monterey, California, in the early hours of October 8, 2017.
During this time, the hotel was hosting the National Federation of Republican Women for its 40th Biennial Convention, and on October 12, 2017, the police received a confidential incident report.
No probable cause was ever found, though the full police report, is exempt from public disclosure.
There are laws in California involving specific, non-private information but you can find that information in the MPD release readily available.
Since the allegations surfaced in 2024, insiders connected to the Trump campaign have been shocked by the news and wondering how it could affect the way people view the President’s cabinet—it’s worth noting that Hegseth wasn’t vetted by the campaign by an outside firm before being picked for the position.
Despite his denial, and the fact that the allegations were never found to be true, Pete Hegseth’s role is something to continue to watch as public perception continues to form.
Police Report Released, Offering Never Before Seen Details of Assault Claims
A police report that was released Wednesday night has provided new, graphic details related to the sexual assault accusations against Trump's Defense Secretary pick, Pete Hegseth.
So far, Hegseth has denied the allegations that have surfaced, and he has never been charged with a crime. The newly released report reveals that the woman was introduced to him at the end of a conference. She told the police that he was acting inappropriately, including rubbing multiple women's legs. In a text, she told someone that he was, "giving off a creeper vibe."
The woman reported to police that she ended up in Hegseth's hotel room after he spoke at a conference hosted by the California Federation of Republican Women at the Hyatt Regency Monterey Hotel and Spa.
She explained that Hegseth took her phone, and she tried to leave, he blocked the hotel door and sexually assaulted her. She has reported that her memory is hazy as she had much to drink that day. One woman reported to police that the woman was flirting with Hegseth. Another female witness reported that Hegseth was acting aggressively towards her before she entered his hotel room. Hegseth has told police that he sought the woman's consent for sex, "making sure she was comfortable with what was going on."
The new allegation has complicated the plan for Hegseth to assume the role of Defense Secretary. It has further been revealed that Hegseth paid the woman after she threatened to file a lawsuit against him in 2020 because he feared he would lose his job at Fox.
In the released report, the alleged offense was described as, "Rape: Victim unconscious of the nature of the act." It was recommended that the case be forwarded to the Monterey County District Attorney's Office for review.
Pete Hegseth Military Rank, Career, and Potential Impact
Throughout his ongoing military career, Pete Hegseth has made quite a name for himself. Here are some of the notable accomplishments from his time in the service:
- Pete Hegseth has served since 2003 and has the rank of Major in the Minnesota Army National Guard.
- Hegseth has served in Guantánamo Bay, Iraq, and Afghanistan, earning eight awards in the process.
Because of his military experience and how they have shaped his politics, it’s no wonder that he and Trump get along, but it’s still a shock that he’s becoming the Secretary of Defense.
There are big shoes to fill as he takes over for highly esteemed Gen. Lloyd Austin during a time in which many different parts of the world face difficult military challenges.
Having his level of military experience is beneficial for advising on such subjects and helping shape policies that will affect warfighters and their families.
With that being said, the level of conservatism Hegseth brings to the table could affect marginalized groups within the American Armed Forces as they work to defend our nation.
Having everyone on the same page is important for any organization but if it can come at the expense of those you are set to lead, it can also be counterproductive.
Looking at the multiple overturns the Secretary of Defense faced during Trump’s last administration, the hire makes sense.
There are several conflicts involving Europe, Asia, and the Middle East that are in need of review, which are all tasks Trump plans to prioritize and will need military expertise around him to make sound decisions.
Considering Trump’s strong stance on installing more and more loyal members throughout his administration in the Defense Department and beyond, for notable overhauls, his Pete Hegseth decision becomes clearer.
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