United States: Pete Hegseth narrowly confirmed as head of the Pentagon

Accusation of sexual assault, excessive consumption of alcohol, lack of experience: despite criticism, Donald Trump’s choice as head of the Pentagon, Pete Hegseth, was narrowly approved on Friday by the US Senate.

In the United States, the Constitution requires that appointments of ministers and other senior officials be confirmed by a vote in the Senate.

But despite a Republican majority of 53 seats out of 100 in the upper house of Congress, the new vice-president, JD Vance, had to – a rare thing – go there to decide a count of 50 votes against 50 with his vote decisive.

“Considerable concerns”

Because three Republican elected officials voted against, including, with some surprise, Mitch McConnell, former Republican official. Lisa Murkowski, who also voted against, had earlier said that this nomination raised “considerable concerns” to which she could not “turn a blind eye”.

She also cites the opposition expressed by Pete Hegseth to the presence of women in combat troops. Since his statements in November, the former soldier has claimed to have returned to this opposition.

Pete Hegseth has become known to Americans over the past ten years as a presenter at Fox News, the favorite channel of conservatives in the United States.

“Bring back the warrior culture”

At 44, he must take the helm of a ministry with a colossal budget of 850 billion dollars (769.6 billion Swiss francs) annually and employing some three million soldiers, reservists, and civilians.

His main mission, he declared in mid-January during his confirmation hearing before a Senate committee, will be to “bring back the warrior culture” to the Pentagon.

Pete Hegseth has stated on numerous occasions that he wants to reform the Pentagon from top to bottom, which has become too “woke” and acquired an ideology that is too left-wing, according to him.

A charge of sexual assault

The announcement of Pete Hegseth’s appointment in November sparked an outcry from the opposition. Before the Armed Services Committee, Democratic senators questioned him in particular about an accusation of sexual assault.

Dating from 2017 in California, it emerged after the announcement of his appointment. The former soldier, who denies any non-consensual relationship, reached a financial agreement of 50,000 dollars (45,276 Swiss francs) a few years later with the woman who accused him, to prevent prosecution.

Opposition elected officials also decried during the hearing his lack of experience to lead such an important portfolio. “Mr. Hegseth, you are not qualified,” said Senator Tammy Duckworth.

Suspected of having regularly excessive alcohol consumption

This former combat helicopter pilot in the army, who had both legs amputated after her aircraft was targeted by a rocket in Iraq in 2004, criticized in a press release on Wednesday her opposition to the presence of women in combat troops.

Pete Hegseth is also suspected of regularly drinking excessively.

“One of your colleagues said that you were so drunk at an event in a bar that you sang ‘Kill all the Muslims,’” Senator Elizabeth Warren said during the hearing. Despite the controversies, Donald Trump maintained his choice at all costs. Again on Friday, he called him a “good man.”

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