In a late-night vote, the Senate confirmed Pete Hegseth as defense secretary, with a tie-breaking vote from Vice President JD Vance. Notably, only three Republicans, including senior moderates Lisa Murkowski and Susan Collins, opposed the confirmation, citing concerns over Hegseth's managerial experience and his controversial remarks. Senator Mitch McConnell, also a detractor, had criticized Trump's role in the Capitol riot yet endorsed his campaign last year. Allegations against Hegseth were not directly mentioned in the opposition, highlighting a complex landscape of party loyalty and personal values.
After initially refusing to denounce Mr. Trump's false claims of election fraud, Mr. McConnell later condemned his repeated attempts to overturn the 2020 election.
Murkowski and Collins are generally viewed as moderates and have long been considered pivotal swing votes.
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