The Senate confirmed Pete Hegseth as the nation's Secretary of Defense in a dramatic vote, defying questions about his qualifications to lead the Pentagon amid allegations of heavy drinking and aggressive behavior toward women.
Rarely has a cabinet nominee faced such widespread concerns about his experience and conduct as Hegseth, especially for such a high-profile role at the head of the U.S. military.
But the Republican-led Senate was determined to confirm Hegseth, a former Fox News host and combat veteran who has pledged to bring a "warrior culture."
"We have a great Secretary of Defense and we are very happy," Trump said.
It is understood that the Senate's ability to confirm Hegseth, despite a serious series of charges against him, provides a measure of Trump's political power and ability to get what he wants from the Republican-led Congress, writes € news, the Telegraph reports.
"He's a good man," Trump said of Hegseth.
Separately, Hegseth faced accusations that he sexually assaulted a woman at a Republican conference in California, although he has denied the allegations and said the encounter was consensual.
He then paid the woman 53 thousand euros in compensation.
Recently, Hegseth's former sister-in-law said in an affidavit that he was abusive to his second wife to the point that she feared for her safety.
Hegseth has denied the accusation, and in the divorce proceedings, neither he nor his wife claimed to be the victim of domestic abuse.
Among other things, he has promised not to drink alcohol at work if confirmed.
A graduate of Princeton and Harvard, Hegseth represents a new generation of veterans following the attacks of September 11, 2001.
He went on to a career at Fox News as a weekend talk show host and was unknown to many on Capitol Hill until Trump picked him for the top Defense job. /Telegraph/
