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Gone quiet · last update Jan 24, 2025 / Pete Hegseth

Pete Hegseth's confirmation as defense secretary

Overview · reviewed October 26, 2026

Pete Hegseth, a Fox News host and Army veteran, was confirmed as defense secretary on January 24, 2025, by a 51-50 Senate vote.[1][2] Vice President JD Vance broke the tie after three Republicans, Lisa Murkowski, Susan Collins and Mitch McConnell, voted against him.[2] His nomination had nearly collapsed weeks earlier over a 2017 sexual assault allegation, which he denied, and reports of excessive drinking, as President-elect Donald Trump considered other picks, including Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis.[3][4] At his confirmation hearing, Hegseth vowed to bring a "warrior culture" to the Pentagon.[5]

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Vice President JD Vance broke the tie after three Republicans, Lisa Murkowski, Susan Collins and Mitch McConnell, voted against him.[2] His nomination had nearly collapsed weeks earlier over a 2017 sexual assault allegation, which he denied, and reports of excessive drinking, as President-elect Donald Trump considered other picks, including Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis.[3][4] At his confirmation hearing, Hegseth vowed to bring a "warrior culture" to the Pentagon.[5]

Coverage over time

Share of tracked outlets · monthly average of weekly shares (UTC)

Nov 2024: average weekly share 16% (left 4%, center 7%, right 5%), from 3 of 3 weeksDec 2024: average weekly share 5% (left 1%, center 3%, right 2%), from 5 of 5 weeksJan 2025: average weekly share 17% (left 5%, center 7%, right 6%), from 4 of 4 weeksFeb 2025: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 4 of 4 weeksMar 2025: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 5 of 5 weeksApr 2025: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 4 of 4 weeksMay 2025: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 4 of 4 weeksJun 2025: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 5 of 5 weeksJul 2025: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 4 of 4 weeksAug 2025: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 4 of 4 weeksSep 2025: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 5 of 5 weeksOct 2025: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 4 of 4 weeksNov 2025: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 4 of 4 weeksDec 2025: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 5 of 5 weeksJan 2026: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 4 of 4 weeksFeb 2026: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 4 of 4 weeksMar 2026: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 5 of 5 weeksApr 2026: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 4 of 4 weeksMay 2026: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 4 of 4 weeksJun 2026: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 5 of 5 weeksJul 2026: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 4 of 4 weeksAug 2026: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 5 of 5 weeksSep 2026: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 4 of 4 weeksOct 2026: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 4 of 4 weeksNov 2026: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 2 of 2 weeks, so far

LeftCenterRight

Each bar is the share of the outlets on our Left / Center / Right rating scale that we tracked publishing that week which carried reporting on this story, split by the outlets' ratings. Over more than two years each bar is a month: the average of that month's weekly shares, so the shape stays readable. The weekly table below keeps every week. We track more outlets now than in the archive, so a share keeps earlier and later weeks comparable. An outlet counts once a week however much it published, and outlets in one ownership or syndication group count as one on each side they appear on. A rating describes the outlet, not the report. A gap means no such reports were collected that week, not that nothing was reported anywhere. Weeks run Monday to Sunday in UTC, so a report published on a Sunday evening in US Eastern time counts in the next week. 7 more outlets off the scale (not rated, or outside the left-right graphs) also reported; they are not in this chart. See them.

Weekly counts, outlets and reports (8 weeks with coverage)
Outlets on the rating scale that carried this story each week, of the outlets tracked that week, newest first
Week of (UTC)LeftCenterRightOf trackedShareReceipts
Jan 20, 202523333793 of 22641%
Jan 13, 202520271663 of 22828%
Dec 16, 20241416 of 2263%
Dec 9, 20240044 of 2082%
Dec 2, 202412261351 of 22822%
Nov 25, 20241214 of 1782%
Nov 18, 20241214834 of 22515%
Nov 11, 202414272162 of 21129%

Latest coverage

The newest reporting in this story's record.

  1. Jan 23, 2025 · first reported · Headline from Military.com

    Hegseth is Quickly Sworn in as Defense Secretary After Dramatic Senate Vote

Background

President-elect Donald Trump chose Pete Hegseth to lead the Defense Department on November 12, 2024, calling him "a Warrior for the Troops."[1] The pick stunned the Pentagon, the Associated Press reported, because Hegseth was largely inexperienced and untested on the global stage.[1] Within days it emerged that Hegseth had been accused of sexual assault in 2017 after speaking at a Republican women's event in Monterey, California, according to a statement from the city.[3] A police report made public in November said a woman told police he had taken her phone, blocked the door to a hotel room and refused to let her leave.[6] Hegseth denied assaulting her, and his lawyer said he had paid the woman under a settlement that included a confidentiality clause.[6][7] In December, Sen. Lindsey Graham said Hegseth had pledged to release her from the agreement,[8] and in January Hegseth told the Senate Armed Services Committee that he had paid her $50,000.[9]

Read the full background (3 more paragraphs)

More allegations followed. The New York Times reported that Hegseth's mother had sent him an email in 2018 sharply criticizing his treatment of women,[10] and sources told NBC News that his drinking had worried colleagues at Fox News.[11] Republican Sen. Kevin Cramer said he wanted Hegseth to stop drinking.[11] Hegseth spent a week meeting Republican senators, who also questioned his views on women in combat.[12][13] Trump's support wobbled as he considered DeSantis as a replacement,[4] then offered a public show of support for Hegseth.[14] Sen. Joni Ernst, a rape survivor, said she had "encouraging" conversations with him.[15]

Hegseth faced the Senate Armed Services Committee on January 14, 2025, calling himself a "change agent" and vowing to restore a "warrior culture."[16][17] In a heated hearing he confronted the allegations of sexual assault and excessive drinking and questions about his derisive views of women in combat.[5] He pledged to support women in combat roles as long as "standards remain high."[18] Sen. Tammy Duckworth asked him to name a member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, a question that stumped him.[19]

The vote stayed close. On January 21, senators received an affidavit from Hegseth's former sister-in-law alleging that he had been abusive to his second wife, which he denied.[20] Murkowski announced that she would vote against him, the first Republican to oppose one of Trump's Cabinet picks, saying the allegations of excessive drinking and aggressive actions toward women showed behavior that "starkly contrasts" with what is expected of the military.[21] The Senate advanced the nomination 51-49 on January 23,[22] and confirmed him late the next night after Vance cast the tie-breaking vote.[2] Trump criticized Murkowski and Collins for opposing him.[2] His tenure is followed in the other arcs of this series, including his changes to the military's rules and culture and his removals of senior officers.

Supporting stories (22)
  1. Trump picks Fox News host and Army veteran Pete Hegseth to serve as secretary of defense
  2. Pete Hegseth sworn in as defense secretary after narrow Senate vote
  3. Trump Defense Secretary nominee Pete Hegseth was involved in investigation into 2017 sexual assault allegation
  4. Pete Hegseth fights to save Pentagon nomination as sources say Trump considers Ron DeSantis
  5. Hegseth confronts allegations of misconduct as senators grill Trump's choice for Pentagon chief
  6. Police report reveals assault allegations against Pete Hegseth, Trump's pick for defense secretary
  7. Pete Hegseth paid woman after sex assault allegation, lawyer confirms
  8. Sen. Lindsey Graham says Hegseth has pledged to release accuser from confidentiality agreement
  9. Hegseth told senator he paid $50,000 to woman who accused him of 2017 sex assault
  10. New York Times: Pete Hegseth’s mother wrote him an email in 2018 accusing him of mistreating women
  11. Trump dismisses reported Hegseth drinking problems in new interview
  12. Hegseth faces growing GOP scrutiny as allegations mount
  13. Hegseth faces senators’ concerns not only about his behavior but also his views on women in combat
  14. Trump offers a public show of support for Hegseth and says he believes he can be confirmed
  15. Sen. Joni Ernst warms up to Pete Hegseth as Defense secretary after ‘encouraging’ conversation on accusations
  16. Pete Hegseth calls himself 'change agent' as Senate hearing opens for Trump's defense secretary pick
  17. Pete Hegseth vows a ‘warrior culture’ if confirmed as Trump’s defense secretary, confronting critics
  18. Pete Hegseth Faces Tough Questions on Women in Military
  19. Question on ASEAN stumped Hegseth at Senate hearing. What is it and why is it important?
  20. Pete Hegseth's former sister-in-law alleges abuse against second wife in affidavit to Senate
  21. Murkowski to vote against Hegseth, first Republican to oppose a Trump cabinet pick
  22. Trump defense pick Minnesota native Hegseth survives US Senate test vote 51-49

The full record

Each date is when an update was first reported.

All 23 recorded updates

January 2025

  1. Pete Hegseth sworn in as defense secretary after narrow Senate voteHeadline from FOX 5 DC · 89 outlets
  2. Murkowski to vote against Hegseth, first Republican to oppose a Trump cabinet pickHeadline from New York Post · 7 outlets
  3. Hegseth told senator he paid $50,000 to woman who accused him of 2017 sex assaultHeadline from Bangor Daily News · 20 outlets
  4. Trump defense pick Minnesota native Hegseth survives US Senate test vote 51-49Headline from Grand Forks Herald · 18 outlets
  5. Pete Hegseth's former sister-in-law alleges abuse against second wife in affidavit to SenateHeadline from WDIO Duluth · 22 outlets
  6. Question on ASEAN stumped Hegseth at Senate hearing. What is it and why is it important?Headline from The Republic · 12 outlets
  7. Key takeaways from Pete Hegseth's fiery confirmation hearingHeadline from Triblive · 45 outlets
  8. Hegseth confronts allegations of misconduct as senators grill Trump's choice for Pentagon chiefHeadline from Boston · 17 outlets
  9. Pete Hegseth vows a ‘warrior culture’ if confirmed as Trump’s defense secretary, confronting criticsHeadline from The Columbian · 6 outlets
  10. Pete Hegseth calls himself 'change agent' as Senate hearing opens for Trump's defense secretary pickHeadline from FOX 61 Hartford · 3 outlets
  11. Pete Hegseth Faces Tough Questions on Women in MilitaryHeadline from Time · 7 outlets

December 2024

  1. Sen. Lindsey Graham says Hegseth has pledged to release accuser from confidentiality agreementHeadline from ABC 17 Mid-Missouri · 6 outlets
  2. Sen. Joni Ernst warms up to Pete Hegseth as Defense secretary after ‘encouraging’ conversation on accusationsHeadline from New York Post · 5 outlets
  3. Hegseth faces senators’ concerns not only about his behavior but also his views on women in combatHeadline from The Boston Globe · 9 outlets
  4. Trump offers a public show of support for Hegseth and says he believes he can be confirmedHeadline from Minneapolis Star Tribune · 32 outlets
  5. Pete Hegseth fights to save Pentagon nomination as sources say Trump considers Ron DeSantisHeadline from Triblive · 36 outlets
  6. Trump dismisses reported Hegseth drinking problems in new interviewHeadline from Newsweek · 6 outlets
  7. Hegseth faces growing GOP scrutiny as allegations mountHeadline from The Hill · 5 outlets

November 2024

  1. New York Times: Pete Hegseth’s mother wrote him an email in 2018 accusing him of mistreating womenHeadline from CNN · 6 outlets
  2. Pete Hegseth paid woman after sex assault allegation, lawyer confirmsHeadline from Fox2 Detroit · 23 outlets
  3. Police report reveals assault allegations against Pete Hegseth, Trump's pick for defense secretaryHeadline from Triblive · 37 outlets
  4. Trump Defense Secretary nominee Pete Hegseth was involved in investigation into 2017 sexual assault allegationHeadline from ABC 17 Mid-Missouri · 17 outlets
  5. Trump picks Fox News host and Army veteran Pete Hegseth to serve as secretary of defenseHeadline from CNN · 64 outlets

Coverage & sources

Read the reports, see how much was collected over time, or compare outlets by political leaning.

Coverage & sources →