McConnell says national security threats pushed him to vote ‘no’ on Hegseth

Published January 24, 2025 11:17pm ET



Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY) voted not to confirm Pete Hegseth as secretary for the Department of Defense because he isn’t confident he is prepared to safeguard the country’s national security interests.

In a lengthy, and at times scathing, statement Friday night, McConnell explained his reasoning for shocking Republicans and leveling a rebuke of President Donald Trump by rejecting his nominee to lead the Pentagon.

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