Former FOX Host: Pete Hegseth Confirmed As SecDef

Republican lawmakers celebrated after the Senate narrowly confirmed Pete Hegseth as defense secretary on Friday.

The Senate was split 50-50, with three Republicans — Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, Susan Collins, R-Maine, and Mitch McConnell, R-Ky. — joining the Democrats in opposing Hegseth's confirmation, forcing Vice President JD Vance to cast the tie-breaking vote.

PETE HEGSETH CONFIRMED: Watch the moment JD Vance casts his first tie breaking vote to confirm Pete Hegseth as Secretary of Defense. pic.twitter.com/SMHTfehox2

— TV News Now (@TVNewsNow) January 25, 2025

After Hegseth was confirmed, GOP lawmakers praised him as a "change agent" who has a "passion for the warfighter."

"Pete has served in the Army National Guard as a frontline officer, and he has a keen intellect and a passion for the warfighter," Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., wrote on the social media platform X.

"He did an excellent job during a very contentious hearing and withstood all the attacks that came his way," Graham added. "He is bullish on creating a larger, more lethal military and is clear-eyed about America’s enemies, including Iran. Israel will have no better friend than Pete Hegseth."

Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, said he was "proud to vote to confirm Pete Hegseth as Secretary of Defense."

"He is the change agent that the DOD desperately needs," Cruz said.

Oklahoma Sen. Markwayne Mullin said: "We did it, America."

"It was an honor to be in the fight with my friend, and your SecDef: @PeteHegseth," he wrote. "The Hegseth family is the best!!

"Heck yeah! @PeteHegseth is the man for the job," Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, said. "I’m honored to have voted for him. We just confirmed him as the next defense secretary."

Sen. Roger Marshall wrote: "Congratulations to @PeteHegseth, our new Secretary of Defense! Pete will bring transformative change, refocusing our military on lethality and recruiting efforts. I can’t wait to see what a great job he will do."

"Pete Hegseth is the perfect fit to make our military great again and achieve peace through strength," Sen. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., wrote. "It was an honor to support his nomination, and I look forward to seeing him restore trust in the Department of Defense by prioritizing war fighters over bureaucrats."