How Pete Hegseth's nomination came back from "90% dead"
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Defense secretary nominee Pete Hegseth mingles at the Commander-in-Chief Ball. Photo: Andrew Harnik/Getty Images
Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth won confirmation Friday night with a tie-breaking vote from Vice President Vance — who also gave crucial tactical advice when the nomination was in crisis.
Why it matters: Scandal doesn't stick to President Trump. The trait seems to be shared by at least the first of his most controversial Cabinet picks, who even Vance was counting out last month.
- "Pete isn't 100% dead. But he might be 90% dead," Vance said at the start of December, according to a transition official who heard the remark.
- Hegseth's nomination was on life support at the time, as he was getting wrecked in the press for alleged sexual misconduct and alcohol abuse.
- Trump was courting Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis as a possible replacement, and some GOP lawmakers thought Hegseth was going the way of former Rep. Matt Gaetz's nomination as attorney general.
Behind the scenes: Trump told Hegseth to fight. Vance told the nominee to attack the allegations head-on and to get on TV.
- Donald Trump Jr. then rallied a network of online MAGA influencers to come to Hegseth's defense.
- Hegseth took the advice. He began his turnaround with a defiant televised gaggle with reporters on Dec. 5.
- Trump loved it.
Hegseth spent hours over the next several weeks meeting with Senate Republicans, and meeting with them again.
- He swore he wouldn't drink on the job. He said he did support women serving in the military, despite past comments to the contrary. He denied every allegation of sexual misconduct.
Between the lines: It wasn't enough to win over Sens. Susan Collins (R-Me.) or Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), who cited many of the scandalous reports that plagued Hegseth's nomination as contributing to their "no" votes.
- It also failed to win over former Senate GOP leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), who put out a long statement suggesting Hegseth wasn't qualified for the job.
- But Hegseth managed to keep support from other feared swing voters like Sens. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), Todd Young (R-Ind.) and John Curtis (R-Utah).
What to watch: Tulsi Gabbard, Kash Patel and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. are next in the hot seat.
- All three have confirmation hearings on Thursday.
