Fury spread in MAGA by Mich McConal’s vote against Trump’s candidate PT Hegaseth

Republican Senator Mich McConelVote against against Donald TrumpNominated for the post of Defense Secretary, Pete Hegseth criticized some of the President’s Make America Great Again (MAGA) supporters online.

Newsweek On Saturday, Email has reached McConel and White House via email for comments.

why it matters

McConel, who previously led it Republican Party in america Managing committee Since 2007, there has been a special confrontation with Trump in the 2020 elections and the years after the US Capital riots on 6 January 2021. Despite these tensions, McConel supported Trump last year as he has long been seen holding his party’s interests in the first place.

Trump has also lashed out at McConel After the defeat in the 2020 election, he claimed that the senators “were hanging with a thread” and since then they continued to criticize McConel, made fun of him after his support.

Despite being a radical conservative, the Kentuki Senator has been regularly criticized by Trump supporters as a “establishment” politician.

what to know

Due to the involvement of some Republican senators, Senate voted modestly to confirm Hegseth as Secretary of the Department of Defense (DOD). Democrat To oppose Hegseth’s nomination.

McConal, as well as Alaska’s GOP Senator Lisa Murkowski and Men’s Susan Collins announced that they would vote “no”, which made the Vice President JD Vance Travel to US Capital on Friday night to cast a tie-breaking vote.

In a statement, McConel explained his views on Hegseth and targeted the main arguments given by Hegseth at his confirmation hearing.

“In his testimony before the committee, Mr. Hegseth should protect the Taiwan or the Philippines against the Chinese attack, or even do they believe that the United States should do so, on this No concrete remarks were given. In this case, he described a strategic approach to deal with the most severe long -term threat arising out of PRC. “

In response to McConel’s vote, Trump, on his behalf, estimated that the former Republican leader would break the rank, he told reporters in the beginning of Friday, “Surely Mitch is not always a vote, I think.”

When another reporter later asked if he was disappointed by McConel’s “no” voting on Hegseth, Trump replied: “I didn’t even know. I just heard that we won. It means, isn’t it? “

McConel’s vote came when Hegseth was widely considered the most controversial cabinet candidate and before his confirmation vote he was accused of sexual abuse and alcohol abuse.

Disputes related to Hegseth

Hegseth had earlier called for “awake” to get rid of military leaders and argued that women should not work in fighter roles. Hegseth has also advocated forgiving the service members accused of war crimes.

East Fox News The host faced further investigation when it was revealed that he was accused of sexual harassment eight years ago. A Trump spokesman said that he was not accused Vanity Fair Hegseth “has strictly denied any and all the allegations.”

His lawyer also told earlier Newsweek: “Although the although the allegation was made, it was thoroughly investigated and the Peat was acquitted. This unfortunate episode should not have any effect on the confirmation process.”

Earlier this week, it was It was revealed that Hegseth had paid $ 50,000 to the woman who accused her of attacking herHegseth revealed this figure in response to the questions of Democratic Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren,

the new Yorker The report last month said that Hegseth was allegedly intoxicated several times while being the CEO of the coach -backed group Conservation Veterans for 2016 from 2013 to 2016.

The report said that Hegseth was so intoxicated that he had to “get out of the organization’s programs”. Asked about the allegations, Hegseth told reporters that he would not “react to the dignity.”

What are people saying

Nick Sorter, an independent journalist who regularly appears on the right -wing news outlet and podcast, wrote on X on Friday: “WTF? Mich McConel immediately left and celebrated with Democrat after voting against Hegseth. The man has to go in 2026. The people of Kentukki voted for Trump’s mandate – not for this anti -Trump BS. “

Jerry Dunlvi IV, former senior investigator of the House Committee of Foreign Affairs, wrote on X on Friday: “This part of McConel’s statement on voting is ridiculous. The confirmation hearing was a circus, and the senators spent most of their time in asking Hegseths to ask stupid questions about Bulls *** controversies. If the senators wanted to be illuminated , So they should have asked good questions. “

Right -wing political commentator Eric Mahethani wrote on X: “These are Mich McConel. 45 years in the elected office. Voted against Pete Hegseth. Ukraine number is a priority. Gas prices, inflation, increase in violent crime, or even 20,000 illegal people crossing the limits every day Not even people. “

Prominent Trump supporter X account Catard wrote on X: “What’s POS!”

Senator Elizabeth Warren called Hegseth in the Senate “the most unqualified” candidate for the defense secretary in modern history: “I would like my Senate colleagues, people who are seriously considering voting to confirm Pete Hegaseth, think about this decision for a long time and deeply.”

what happens next

As CNNHegseth will be sworn in as the Defense Secretary by Wance at the White House on Saturday morning.