Trump defence pick Hegseth narrowly survives US Senate test vote

WASHINGTON – The US Senate narrowly voted on Jan 23 to advance the nomination of Mr Pete Hegseth, a former Fox News host and military veteran, to be President Donald Trump’s secretary of defence, clearing the way for a vote on his confirmation later this week.

The tally was 51-49 in the 100-member Senate on a procedural measure to end debate, as all but two of Mr Trump’s fellow Republicans voted in favour of moving ahead on the nomination

despite new allegations about his personal conduct.

Senators Lisa Murkowski and Susan Collins joined every Democrat and independent in voting no.

The Senate is due to vote on whether to confirm Mr Hegseth late on Jan 24.

One of the most divisive nominees among Mr Trump’s Cabinet picks, Mr Hegseth was confirmed despite Democrats’ concern about his lack of management experience and multiple allegations – which he denied – of inappropriate personal conduct and heavy drinking.

In an affidavit to senators that became public this week, Mr Hegseth’s former sister-in-law said the 44-year-old

abused his second former wife

to the point where she once hid in a closet and gave friends a code word to use in a crisis.

Several episodes surrounding Mr Hegseth have sparked concern among Democrat lawmakers, including a 2017 sexual assault allegation that did not result in charges and which he denies.

ABC News reported on Jan 23 that Democratic Senator Elizabeth Warren said Mr Hegseth told her he paid the woman who accused him in 2017 of sexual assault US$50,000 in a settlement. Ms Warren’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment. An attorney for Mr Hegseth also did not respond to an e-mailed request.

Hegseth, supporters deny allegations

Mr Hegseth denies abusing Mrs Samantha Hegseth, and Republican senators who backed him said they had met him, reviewed his Federal Bureau of Investigation file and other material and were satisfied that he was the right man to lead the Pentagon.

“After this thorough review, I am ironclad in my assessment that the nominee, Mr Hegseth, is prepared to be the next secretary of defence and that the allegations unfairly impugning his character do not pass scrutiny,” Republican Senate Armed Services Committee chairman Roger Wicker said.

Mr Hegseth has declined to meet most Democratic senators, including those on the armed services committee, which held his confirmation hearing.

In recent weeks, Mr Trump has urged his fellow Republicans to back the decorated veteran, and most have fallen into line to defend a nominee they said would restore a “warrior” mentality to the US military.

In Truth Social posts, Mr Trump has said Mr Hegseth “will make a great secretary of defence” and that he has the President’s “complete and total support”.

Democrats have come out strongly against him. Before the vote on Jan 23, Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer said: “Of all the people we could have as secretary of defence, is Pete Hegseth really the best one we’ve got? Come on, you know he isn’t. You know he’s not even close!”

Over 1 million troops, nearly $1.35 trillion budget

Mr Hegseth would lead 1.3 million active-duty service members and the nearly one million civilians who work for the US military, which has an almost US$1 trillion (S$1.36 trillion) annual budget.

If he is confirmed to take charge at the Pentagon, officials would be closely watching whether he shakes up the military’s uniformed leadership, how he deals with personnel issues such as women in combat roles and where he stands on major foreign policy issues like the war in Ukraine, competition with an increasingly assertive China and tensions in the Middle East.

Mr Hegseth has criticised diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives in the military and, in his latest book, questioned whether the top US general has the job because he is black.

For years, Mr Hegseth also strongly opposed women in combat roles but walked back that stance as he courted support for his confirmation, including from Republican Senator Joni Ernst, a military veteran who initially said she had questions about Mr Hegseth but then became an enthusiastic supporter of his nomination. REUTERS