US Senate narrowly confirms former Fox News co-host Pete Hegseth as Pentagon chief

Fox News co-host and former Army National Guard officer Pete Hegseth was narrowly confirmed as US secretary of defense on Friday, with Vice-President J.D. Vance having to cast a tie-breaking ballot after three Republican senators voted against President Donald Trump's personal pick.

The US Senate narrowly confirmed former Fox News co-host Pete Hegseth as Pentagon chief on Friday, despite allegations of alcohol abuse, sexual misconduct and other fears about his ability to lead the world's most powerful military.

Three Republican senators voted against Donald Trump's pick as secretary of defense, resulting in a 50-50 tie that required J.D. Vance to cast the deciding ballot – only the second time in history a vice president has had to intervene to save a cabinet nominee.

The razor-edged result underscored concerns about Hegseth, who will take over the Pentagon with war raging in Ukraine, the Middle East volatile despite ceasefires in Lebanon and Gaza, and as Trump expands the military's role in security on the US-Mexico border.

(AFP)


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