Trump Reacts After Senate Vance Casts Decisive Vote to Confirm Hegseth

Former President Donald Trump has commented following late-night developments in the Senate, where former Fox News host Pete Hegseth was confirmed as Secretary of Defense.
In a dramatic vote, three Republican senators—Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, Susan Collins of Maine, and Mitch McConnell of Kentucky—joined all 47 Democrats in opposing Hegseth's confirmation. This resulted in Vice President JD Vance casting the tie-breaking vote in his role as president of the Senate.
“I’m honored to have Pete. I think Pete’s gonna be a great Secretary of Defense, and we’re honored to have him,” Trump stated while boarding Air Force One in Los Angeles. His day included stops in storm-stricken North Carolina and wildfire-ravaged areas of Los Angeles, showcasing the scale of natural disasters affecting the country.
When asked about McConnell’s opposition, Trump appeared caught off guard, saying he wasn’t aware of the senator’s vote. “Winning is what matters, right?” he added.
🚨President Trump reacts to Pete Hegseth becoming the next Secretary of Defense:
— Sara Rose 🇺🇸🌹 (@saras76) January 25, 2025
"I'm honored to have Pete. I think Pete's gonna be a great Secretary of Defense and we're honored to have him." 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/in0etVUaIN
Despite opposition from three Republicans, many GOP senators expressed strong support for Hegseth, praising his military experience and vision for the Department of Defense.
Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., called Hegseth a “change agent” with a “passion for the warfighter,” emphasizing his record as an Army National Guard officer with multiple combat tours. “He did an excellent job during a very contentious hearing and withstood all the attacks that came his way,” Graham wrote on X. “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, echoed Graham’s sentiments, saying he was “proud to vote to confirm Pete Hegseth as Secretary of Defense.” He described Hegseth as the “change agent that the DOD desperately needs.”
Other Republican senators celebrated the confirmation, including Sen. Markwayne Mullin, R-Okla., who declared, “We did it, America. It was an honor to be in the fight with my friend and your SecDef: @PeteHegseth. The Hegseth family is the best!!”
“Heck yeah! @PeteHegseth is the man for the job,” added Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah. “I’m honored to have voted for him. We just confirmed him as the next defense secretary.”
Sen. Roger Marshall, R-Kan., congratulated Hegseth, noting, “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.”
Sen. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., called Hegseth the ideal candidate to "make our military great again and achieve peace through strength." She 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.”
Support also came from House Republicans. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., congratulated Hegseth, saying, “Every brave service member and every American is safer with you leading the Pentagon. American strength is BACK!”
“Congratulations to our NEW Secretary of Defense,” added Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, R-Fla.
However, Senate Democrats voiced skepticism about Hegseth’s qualifications.
“Is Pete Hegseth—who failed to manage the finances of veterans’ nonprofit groups, who drove his organizations into debt to the point where he could not even pay creditors—really the person Republicans want in charge of the Pentagon’s budget?” asked Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., on X prior to the vote.
Sen. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., was equally critical: “We deserve a Secretary of Defense with solid experience, sound judgment, and good character. Pete Hegseth does not meet the test.”