McConnell's vote of conscience against Pete Hegseth, following decades of obstruction, was rendered meaningless after J.D. Vance broke the tie vote.

Vice President Vance cast a tie-breaking vote as Hegseth overcame allegations of sexual assault, public drunkenness and questions of financial mismanagement to win Senate approval.

Pete Hegseth was confirmed after Vice President JD Vance cast a tie-breaking vote in support of his nomination. See how your senators voted.

The new defense secretary’s goals run counter to the military’s apolitical tradition and efforts to build a force that mirrors America.

They’re mad because McConnell had the audacity to speak the absolute truth — that Pete Hegseth, who allegedly drinks too much, paid a woman $50,000 to settle a sexual assault allegation, and drove two nonprofit groups into the ground, wasn’t qualified to be U.S. defense secretary. And he voted against confirming Hegseth.

Recently confirmed Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth starts work at the Pentagon on Monday and already he is facing several challenges both at home and abroad.

The procedural vote of 51-49 put the Fox News host on the path for approval Friday evening, after senators engage in 30 hours of debate. If McConnell would’ve voted “no,” it would’ve forced Vice President J.D. Vance to break a tie on the Senate floor.

Pete Hegseth has vowed to bring his “warrior” ethos to the Pentagon. Democrats had assailed him as unfit for the job, and his confirmation came down to Vice President JD Vance serving as tiebreaker.

After a few GOP senators, including McConnell, voted against Hegseth for defense secretary, the Senate narrowly voted to confirm him.

The Senate just barely confirmed Pete Hegseth as Defense Secretary last week. Mitch McConnell’s vote against him in particular could spell trouble for Trump's shakiest nominees, including Robert F. Kennedy Jr,

Mitch McConnell (R-Kentucky) cited rising global threats as a reason for voting against confirming Pete Hegseth as defense secretary. Republican Sens. Susan Collins (Maine), Mitch McConnell (Kentucky) and Lisa Murkowski (Alaska) joined all Democrats in opposition.

Newly-confirmed Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth received strong praise from President Trump and other Republicans following a nail-biting Senate vote Friday night that will see him take command of the Pentagon.