Moderate Republican Murkowski won’t back Trump pick Hegseth for defense secretary

Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, said on Thursday she can’t support Pete Hegseth to be President Donald Trump’s secretary of Defense. 

“Given the global security environment we’re operating in, it is critical that we confirm a Secretary of Defense, however, I regret that I am unable to support Mr. Hegseth,” she concluded in a lengthy statement posted to X. 

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Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-AK, speaks during the Senate Appropriations Committee hearing on the Special Diabetes Program on July 11, 2023 in Washington, DC.  (Jemal Countess/Getty Images for JDRF)

In her reasoning, Murkowski cited infidelity, “allegations of sexual assault and excessive drinking” and Hegseth’s previous comments on women serving in the military. 

The behaviors that he has admitted to alone, she said, show “a lack of judgment that is unbecoming of someone who would lead our armed forces.”

While Hegseth has admitted to past infidelity, he has denied claims of excessive drinking and sexual assault. 

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President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee for Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth testifies during his Senate Armed Services confirmation hearing on Capitol Hill on Jan. 14 in Washington, D.C.  ( (Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images))

The Alaska Republican noted that she met with Hegseth “and carefully reviewed his writings, various reports, and other pertinent materials.” 

Further, Murkowski said she “closely followed his hearing before the Senate Armed Services Committee and gathered substantial feedback from organizations, veterans, and Alaskans.”

However, “After thorough evaluation, I must conclude that I cannot in good conscience support his nomination for Secretary of Defense,” she said. 

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Secretary of Defense nominee Pete Hegseth, left, and President Elect Donald Trump, right  (Getty)

Other GOP senators who have yet to take a public position on Hegseth include Sens. Susan Collins, R-Maine, and former GOP Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky.

Collins told reporters on Thursday, “I’ll be releasing a statement shortly.” 

Hegseth will need a simple majority of the Senate to vote in his favor in order to be confirmed. With the Republicans’ 53-seat majority, he can only afford to lose a handful of the conference. If there is a tie, newly sworn in Vice President JD Vance will be needed to cast the tie-breaking vote. 

The move to oppose Hegseth’s confirmation was not unexpected from Murkowski, who has earned a reputation for occasionally bucking her party. 

Fox News was recently told it was possible Hegseth’s confirmation would need Vance’s tie-breaking vote.In particular, Fox News was told to watch McConnell, Collins and Murkowski on the pivotal confirmation vote. 

If McConnell and Collins join Murkowski in voting nay, Vance will need to come to the Capitol to break the tie and confirm Hegseth as Defense Secretary.

McConnell has not revealed his stance on Hegseth. (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)

 No Vice President had ever broken a tie to confirm a cabinet Secretary until former Vice President Pence did so to confirm Betsy DeVos as Education Secretary on February 7, 2017. Pence also broke ties to confirm former Sen. Sam Brownback (R-KS) as ambassador for religious freedom in 2018. He also broke a tie to confirm current Budget Director nominee Russ Vought as Deputy Budget Director in 2018.

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Over the last few days, Hegseth’s nomination has faced new pressure with the revelation of an affidavit from his former sister-in-law that alleged he made his ex-wife Samantha Hegseth fear for her safety. Additionally, a source familiar told Fox News that Samantha had provided a new statement to the FBI, which alleged “Pete Hegseth has had and continues to have a problem with alcohol abuse.”

Hegseth maintained his denial of any allegations of alcohol, physical or sexual abuse.