Pete Hegseth needs a tiebreaker vote from J.D. Vance to confirm him as Donald Trump's defense secretary after a last-minute meeting with a GOP senator with on-the-fence.
Despite cross-overs from former Republican leader Mitch McConnell, as well as Susan Collins and Lisa Murkowski, a 50-50 tie will likely be broken by Vice President Vance to forward the nomination and fill Donald Trump's Cabinet.
Upon hearing the outcome, Vance joked on social media: “I thought I was done voting in the Senate.”
The Hegseth vote will be Vance's first tiebreaker as vice president, which has always served as the Senate tiebreaker. His predecessor, Kamala Harris, served this role on 33 occasions.
This would be only the second time in American history that a vice president would have to break a tie for a nominee.
The first opportunity was for Trump's first-term nominee, Betsy DeVos, the first of Mike Pence's 13 tiebreaking votes as vice president.
There were rumors around Washington that former Republican leader Mitch McConnell and North Carolina's Thom Tills' votes were in doubt.
McConnell, who is ragged on U.S. defense and foreign policy, had voted earlier this week to advance the nomination to the floor but was a no on confirmation.
Pete Hegseth flashes a thumbs up
Tills — who faces reelection in 2026 — told reporters that he spoke with Hegseth for two hours on Friday and said he was convinced and believed him.
Hegseth posted a letter he wrote on social media on social media, clarifying some questions about his sister-in-law's allegations that he abused his second wife.
The former Fox News host, 44, responded point-by-point to several of Danielle Dietrich's allegations, ending with Hegseth saying she is a “lifelong Democrat” with “partisan and personal animosity” toward him.
Tills responded in a statement of his own, writing, “As soon as Pete Hegseth's nomination was sent to the floor of the Senate Armed Services Committee by my colleagues. Openness in answering them. '
Hegseth is Donald Trump's most controversial confirmation to date.
And he was skating on thin ice before getting a passing vote from senators on Friday.
Immediately after Trump announced Hegseth's nomination in November, the candidate was dogged with allegations including drinking issues, sexual misconduct and poor business judgment.
The father of seven denies wrongdoing in those cases, and he credits God and his third wife Jennifer for helping him change course. “I'm not perfect,” he testified before the Senate Armed Services Committee as his wife sat directly behind her husband in a show of support.
Upon hearing the outcome, Vance joked on social media: 'I thought I was done voting in the Senate'
Hegseth posted a letter he wrote on social media on social media, clarifying some questions about his sister-in-law's allegations that he abused his second wife
The former Fox News host, 44, responded point-by-point to several of Danielle Dietrich's allegations, ending with Hegseth saying she is a “lifelong Democrat” with “partisan and personal animosity” toward him
Tills responded in a statement of his own, noting that he met with Hegseth for two hours on Friday
Hegseth's nomination means that even Trump's most controversial candidates can pass muster
But in the past 24 hours just before his final confirmation, several Republicans turned their backs on Trump's nominee and said they would not vote for him.
Nevertheless, Hegseth was confirmed in the Pentagon's best job – proving that Donald Trump's maga mandate has won over even the most skeptical senators.
However, Hegseth did not win over all Republicans.
Sens. Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska revealed they would not support the candidate, in part because of the scandals hanging over him.
“While the allegations of sexual assault and excessive drinking do nothing to calm my concerns, the past conduct Mr. Hegseth has admitted to, including infidelity on multiple occasions, demonstrates a lack of judgment that is insignificant from someone who would lead our armed forces , 'The 67-year-old Murkoswki wrote on Thursday on x.
'Given the global security environment in which we operate, it is critical that we confirm a Secretary of Defense, but I regret that I cannot support Mr. Hegseth. '
Collins posted a similar tweet just minutes after her fellow Republican: “After careful consideration, I have decided to vote against the nomination of Pete Hegseth for Secretary of Defense.”
“The next Secretary of Defense will be responsible for managing a massive bureaucracy with nearly three million employees and a budget of nearly $850 billion,” she wrote before noting “his limited management experience includes running two small nonprofit organizations which had definitely mixed Results. '
Donald Trump opened up about his shock that two GOP senators are going against his pick for defense secretary ahead of the vote Friday morning.
“I was very surprised that Collins and Murkowski would do that,” the president told reporters of the two veteran senators from Alaska and Maine.
Trump then correctly predicted that his longtime Senate rival Mitch McConnell would not support his Cabinet nominee.
“And of course Mitch is always a no vote, I think,” Trump added, naming the former longtime Senate GOP leader.
“Is Mitch a 'no' vote?” The President added. “What about Mitch, huh? “Let's see what happens.”
Hegseth was accused of sexual assault in 2017, but he denied the claims and was never charged. Although a report surfaced Thursday that he has paid the accuser $50,000
Pete Hegseth, President-elect Donald Trump's nominee for secretary of defense and his wife Jennifer Rauchet leave after inauguration ceremonies at the U.S. Capitol on January 20, 2025 in Washington, DC
Hegseth takes a selfie with supporters
McConnell has yet to comment on his No vote.
Hours later on Thursday evening, a report revealed how the nominee paid a woman who accused him of sexual assault $50,000 in 2017.
The case was well publicized, but the payment was previously unknown until the AP obtained testimony from testimony Hegseth provided to Democrat Sen. Elizabeth Warren.
As his nomination teetered on the edge, Republicans were able to stand together despite losing some members to put Hegseth in Trump's Cabinet.
Now the Senate will work this weekend to prepare for Kristi NOEM to be confirmed as Department of Homeland Security.
Typically, Cabinet-level roles with high national security importance are prioritized, as was the case with Secretary of State Marco Rubio and CIA Director John Ratcliffe's nominations earlier this week.
