Pete Hegseth has officially been confirmed as the new Secretary of State under President Donald Trump’s administration, but the road to confirmation was anything but smooth. Drama erupted within the Republican Party, with notable dissent coming from former Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, who cast a controversial ‘no’ vote on Hegseth’s confirmation.
McConnell initially voted ‘yes’ to advance Hegseth’s nomination out of committee, only to reverse his decision during the full Senate vote. This move sparked outrage among conservatives and Trump supporters, with many taking to social media to vent their frustration.
McConnell Faces Backlash Over Controversial Vote
The backlash against McConnell was swift and fierce. Conservative commentator Nick Sortor shared a video on X (formerly Twitter), calling out McConnell’s actions:
“WTF? Mitch McConnell immediately walked over and CELEBRATED with the Democrats after voting against Hegseth. This man HAS TO GO in 2026. The people of Kentucky voted for Trump’s mandate—not this anti-Trump BS.”
Other prominent conservatives echoed similar sentiments. Tim Young criticized McConnell for appearing to side with Democrats immediately after casting his vote:
“After voting against Pete Hegseth, Mitch McConnell went to the left side of the aisle to hang out with Democrats.”
Another X user pointed out McConnell’s role in forcing Vice President JD Vance to cast a historic tie-breaking vote:
“Mitch McConnell just voted NO on President Trump’s secretary of state nominee. This led to VP Vance having to rush down to cast a tie-breaking vote—only the second such vote in U.S. history.”
Calls for McConnell’s removal from leadership roles began circulating online, with some conservatives demanding that Senate Majority Leader John Thune strip McConnell of his position as Chairman of the Defense Appropriations Subcommittee. Others, like Brigitte Gabriel, founder of ACT for America, called for McConnell to be censured, primaried, and voted out of office.
“Mitch McConnell should be censured, primaried, voted out of office, and ostracized from the Republican Party. There is no place for deep-state RINOs in President Trump’s GOP,” Gabriel wrote.
Conservative commentator Zeek Arkham added a fiery rebuke:
“Dear Kentucky, Mitch McConnell has proven to you that he’s out for himself. He couldn’t care less about you, the direction of the country, or draining the swamp. When his old, wrinkled, turkey-necked a** is up for re-election, you know what to do. Make the rest of us proud. We love you.”
Collins and Murkowski Also in the Crosshairs
The outrage wasn’t limited to McConnell. Republican Senators Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska also faced significant criticism for their ‘no’ votes, which created a 50-50 tie and forced Vice President JD Vance to cast his first-ever tie-breaking vote.
“Susan Collins voted against Pete Hegseth. Let’s all work together to primary her and get her out of office!” Tim Young declared on X.
A meme circulating online referred to Collins as an “undocumented Democrat,” with one user calling for her ouster:
“This is Susan Collins. Susan doesn’t represent the American people. She plans to seek reelection in 2026. She needs to be primaried.”
Conservative commentator Clay Travis added his take, drawing a distinction between Collins and Murkowski:
“I totally understand why Susan Collins, who represents a blue state, Maine, might not be able to support every Trump agenda item in the Senate. But Lisa Murkowski needs to go in Alaska. Trump won Alaska by 13 points. Murkowski should support him on everything. Period.”
Trump Stands Firm Behind Hegseth
Despite the drama, President Trump expressed confidence in Pete Hegseth’s ability to lead as Secretary of State. When asked about the contentious confirmation process, Trump remained optimistic:
“I’m honored to have Pete. I think Pete’s gonna be a great Secretary of State, and we’re honored to have him.”
The president made the remarks while boarding Air Force One in Los Angeles following visits to storm-ravaged North Carolina and wildfire-affected areas in California.
When pressed for his thoughts on McConnell’s “no” vote, Trump appeared unfazed:
“Winning is what matters, right?”
Looking Ahead
With Hegseth now confirmed, his focus will likely turn to advancing Trump’s foreign policy agenda, which has centered on strengthening America’s global standing and reasserting its leadership on the world stage. However, the internal divisions within the Republican Party exposed during the confirmation process highlight the challenges Trump and his team may face as they navigate his second term.
As the GOP looks ahead to the 2026 elections, figures like McConnell, Collins, and Murkowski may find themselves in the crosshairs of Trump-aligned conservatives determined to reshape the party in the former president’s image. For now, however, Hegseth’s confirmation marks a significant victory for the Trump administration—and a step forward in implementing its vision for America’s future.