Sen. <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/mitch-mcconnell" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Mitch McConnell</a> (R-KY), Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense, released a statement late on Friday night explaining his decision to vote against confirming Pete Hegseth to Secretary of Defense.
McConnell&#8217;s statement comes after Hegseth was confirmed in a 51-50 vote in the U.S. Senate earlier in the night with Vice President JD Vance casting the tie-breaking vote.
The 82-year-old said that the U.S. was in a more serious threat environment today than at any other point since World War II, making the position even more important.
McConnell wrote:
<blockquote>Effective management of nearly 3 million military and civilian personnel, an annual budget of nearly $1 trillion, and alliances and partnerships around the world is a daily test with staggering consequences for the security of the American people and our global interests.
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.</blockquote>
McConnell argued that a &#8220;desire to be a ‘change agent’ is not enough to fill these shoes&#8221; and that numerous secretaries &#8220;distinguished combat experience and time in the trenches have failed at the job.&#8221;
<a href="https://get.dailywire.com/subscribe/plus/?_gl=1*1lail3r*_gcl_aw*R0NMLjE3MzIyMDEyNDkuQ2owS0NRaUEwZnU1QmhEUUFSSXNBTVhVQk9JSkM0VnNsMFVreURxYXUxVWVEVWdOdjZkNzR2Y1pEeEZQeHVBcGl2R3BLaTdBMjVzT1p5TWFBdG1nRUFMd193Y0I.*_gcl_au*NDUxNDQ0NzYwLjE3MzY3ODI2NDY.*_ga*MTc2NzM0NDQ2NS4xNzI4OTA5Nzkx*_ga_CZKR9ZYKJP*MTczNjk1NzYwMy4zNDAuMS4xNzM2OTU3NzE2LjYwLjAuMA.." target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://get.dailywire.com/subscribe/plus/?_gl%3D1*1lail3r*_gcl_aw*R0NMLjE3MzIyMDEyNDkuQ2owS0NRaUEwZnU1QmhEUUFSSXNBTVhVQk9JSkM0VnNsMFVreURxYXUxVWVEVWdOdjZkNzR2Y1pEeEZQeHVBcGl2R3BLaTdBMjVzT1p5TWFBdG1nRUFMd193Y0I.*_gcl_au*NDUxNDQ0NzYwLjE3MzY3ODI2NDY.*_ga*MTc2NzM0NDQ2NS4xNzI4OTA5Nzkx*_ga_CZKR9ZYKJP*MTczNjk1NzYwMy4zNDAuMS4xNzM2OTU3NzE2LjYwLjAuMA..&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1737044212122000&amp;usg=AOvVaw3mp2MZNwEXBk00lKmCtOss">CELEBRATE #47 WITH 47% OFF DAILYWIRE+ MEMBERSHIPS + A FREE $20 GIFT</a>
McConnell continued:
<blockquote>The United States faces coordinated aggression from adversaries bent on shattering the order underpinning American security and prosperity. In public comments and testimony before the Armed Services Committee, Mr. Hegseth did not reckon with this reality.
President Trump has rightly called on NATO allies to spend more on our collective defense. But the nominee who would have been responsible for leading that effort wouldn’t even commit to growing America’s defense investment beyond the low bar set by the Biden Administration’s budget requests.
In his testimony before the Committee, Mr. Hegseth provided no substantial observations on how to defend Taiwan or the Philippines against a Chinese attack, or even whether he believes the United States should do so. He failed, for that matter, to articulate in any detail a strategic vision for dealing with the gravest long-term threat emanating from the PRC.
Absent, too, was any substantive discussion of countering our adversaries’ alignment with deeper alliance relationships and more extensive defense industrial cooperation of our own.</blockquote>
McConnell said that he wished Hegseth &#8220;great success&#8221; in the role and that he looked forward to closely working with him &#8220;to restore American hard power.&#8221;
&#8220;Every member of the uniformed services will be looking to him for decisive, principled, and nonpartisan leadership,&#8221; he added.
McConnell&#8217;s move was met with backlash from some of his Republican colleagues:
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
McConnell is the embodiment of what is wrong in DC. He will work against Trump. He can’t help it. <a href="https://t.co/5VQVIIpGGe">https://t.co/5VQVIIpGGe</a>
— Anna Paulina Luna (@realannapaulina) <a href="https://twitter.com/realannapaulina/status/1882978446688846265?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 25, 2025</a></blockquote>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Mitch McConnell doesn’t support <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@realDonaldTrump</a> and he doesn’t support an America First agenda. He never has.
It’s why I ran against him for Leader and why I’ll continue to fight for President Trump and his agenda. <a href="https://t.co/JcRo6Yjpbq">https://t.co/JcRo6Yjpbq</a>
— Rick Scott (@ScottforFlorida) <a href="https://twitter.com/ScottforFlorida/status/1882994177941868975?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 25, 2025</a></blockquote>

<script async src="https://www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<script async src="https://www.tiktok.com/embed.js"></script><div data-widget-host="revcontent" data-pub-id="165152" data-widget-id="290588"></div><script src="https://delivery.revcontent.com/165152/290588/widget.js"></script>

McConnell Releases Statement In Defense Of ‘No’ Vote For Hegseth

CONTINUE READING

Platner Refuses To Apologize After Mocking Purple Heart Recipient

Trump Makes Tough Call On Don Jr.’s Bahamas Wedding

Scandal-Plagued Journo Who Wrote Hit Piece On Daily Wire Has Old Ties To Mamdani

Reporter Behind Anti-Daily Wire Hit Piece Now Facing Plagiarism Investigation

US Intel Claims Cuba Is Plotting Attack Against American Homeland

Erika Kirk Reflects On Love And Loss In Anniversary Tribute To Charlie

News

Congress

Department of Defense

Mitch McConnell

Pete Hegseth

Politics

A video goes viral showing a baby being refused his mother by two gay "dads". This is just the tip of the iceberg, which is why we will have an important discussion today about surrogacy. 

Hour 1

The Matt Walsh Show

Ep. 1765 - This Video Is One Of The Worst Things I've Seen In A Long Time 

The Strait of Hormuz officially opens for business (kind of), the Pope makes “shocking” comments on immigration, and President Trump promises UFO disclosure at TPUSA. 


The Michael Knowles Show

Ep. 1956 -  Pope Leo's "SHOCKING" Immigration Comments EXPLAINED

A false miscreed has corrupted our leadership class.


The Andrew Klavan Show

Ep. 1275 - Dumb, Dumber and Progressive

President Trump announces a 10-day ceasefire between Lebanon and Israel, a murder-suicide involving former Democratic Lieutenant Governor Justin Fairfax shakes Virginia, and France and Britain hold a conference to secure the Strait of Hormuz – after the Iranian conflict ends. Get the facts first with Morning Wire.

- - -

Ep. 2738

- - -

Wake up with new Morning Wire merch: https://bit.ly/4lIubt3

- - -

Today's Sponsors:

Alliance Defending Freedom - Visit https://JoinADF.com/WIRE or text 'WIRE' to 83848 to learn more.

Pocket Hose - Text MORNING to 64000 to get a FREE pocket pivot and their 10-pattern sprayer with the purchase of ANY size Copper Head hose. Message and data rates may apply.

Morning Wire

U.S. Expands Hormuz Blockade & VA Fairfax Deaths Investigated | 4.17.26

U.S. Expands Hormuz Blockade & VA Fairfax Deaths Investigated | 4.17.26 [Member Exclusive]

A ceasefire goes into effect between Israel and Lebanon, a tragic murder-suicide rocks Virginia, and Dairy Queen deploys AI in the drive-thru. Get the facts first with Evening Wire.
- - -
Ep. 2737
- - -
Wake up with new Morning Wire merch: https://bit.ly/4lIubt3 
- - -
Today’s Sponsor:

Alliance Defending Freedom - Visit https://JoinADF.com/WIRE or text “WIRE” to 83848 to learn more.


Evening Wire: Lebanon Ceasefire Begins & Murder-Suicide Rocks VA | 4.16.26

The Pendragon Cycle

Menu

— News —

McConnell Releases Statement In Defense Of ‘No’ Vote For Hegseth