Trump Dismisses Mitch McConnell’s No-Vote On His Pentagon Pick Pete Hegseth: ‘Winning Is What Matters’
President Donald Trump dismissed Sen. Mitch McConnell’s (R-KY) no-vote Friday night against now-Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth.
The former Fox News weekend host was confirmed Friday night with Vice President JD Vance casting a tie-breaking vote to end Hegseth’s controversial confirmation process.
Facing accusations of alcohol abuse, marital infidelity, domestic abuse, sexual assault, and other salacious allegations, Hegseth lost three GOP senators during Friday’s vote – McConnell and Sens. Susan Collins (R-ME) and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK).
Trump was in California Friday night when he was asked about McConnell’s decision to vote against Hegseth’s confirmation.
A reporter asked him, “Are you disappointed that McConnell voted no?”
Trump replied, “I didn’t even know that, no. I don’t know that. I just heard that. We won. Winning is what matters, right?”
Politico reported McConnell said after voting against Hegseth’s confirmation he did not feel the 44-year-old was equipped to run the Pentagon.
Trump said earlier Friday he did not anticipate McConnell – who wishes to take on isolationist Republicans during the current legislative session – would support Hegseth.
The Kentucky Republican said Hegseth’s job was a “daily test with staggering consequences for the security of the American people and our global interests.”
He concluded, “Mr. Hegseth has failed, as yet, to demonstrate that he will pass this test. But as he assumes office, the consequences of failure are as high as they have ever been.”
The outlet further reported McConnell. who relinquished control over his leadership position, is not expected to make a habit of being a thorn in the side of Trump: “The Kentucky Republican’s colleagues don’t expect him to be a perennial headache for Trump, his one-time ally, and some in the wake of Hegseth’s nomination vote said they aligned with his worldview even if they came to a different decision on the incoming Defense secretary.”
