Republican Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski — who broke with her party on numerous occasions to support former President Joe Biden’s

Senators voted 51-49 to advance Hegseth's defense secretary bid, which has been mired in several controversies. Two Republicans oppose him.

President Donald Trump said he was “surprised” that Republican Sens. Susan Collins (Maine) and Lisa Murkowski (Alaska) voted to oppose Pete Hegseth’s defense secretary nomination.

Pete Hegseth, President-elect Donald Trump’s choice to be Defense secretary, gives a thumbs up while leaving after his Senate Armed Services Committee confirmation hearing, at the Capitol in Washington, Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

President Trump on Friday said he wasn’t expecting Republican Sens. Lisa Murkowski (Alaska) and Susan Collins (Maine) to vote against his controversial nominee for secretary of Defense: Army

Trump told reporters he was "surprised" Republican Sens. Lisa Murkowski and Susan Collins planned to vote against former Fox News host Pete Hegseth's nomination to lead the Defense Department.

The Senate, in an extremely narrow vote, confirmed Pete Hegseth, President Donald Trump's embattled pick to serve as secretary of defense.

It was a major victory for President Donald Trump after receiving some fierce opposition to his controversial nominee. Read more at straitstimes.com.

Alaska U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski said Thursday that she would vote against confirming Pete Hegseth to lead the U.S. Department of Defense. The state's other senator, Dan Sullivan, said he supports Hegseth.

Hegseth has tended to blame “left-wing media” for turning him into a victim of a “smear campaign” orchestrated by “anonymous sources.”

Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) announced Thursday that she would vote against confirming Pete Hegseth, President Donald Trump's nominee for Secretary of Defense.