Three Republicans voted with every Democrat against Trump’s controversial pick to lead the Pentagon, forcing Vance to step in and put Hegseth over the top.

Vice President Vance cast a tie-breaking vote as Hegseth overcame allegations of sexual assault, public drunkenness and questions of financial mismanagement to win Senate approval.

A Princeton and Harvard-educated former combat veteran, Hegseth went on to make a career at Fox News, where he hosted a weekend show. Trump tapped him as the defense secretary to lead an organization with nearly 2.1 million service members, about 780,000 civilians and a budget of $850 billion.

The Senate confirmed Pete Hegseth as defense secretary by the narrowest of margins, elevating an Army National Guard veteran and former Fox News host to the top Pentagon job with the help of a rare tie-breaking vote by the vice president.

Pete Hegseth was sworn in as the 29th U.S. secretary of defense after Vice President JD Vance cast a tie-breaking vote in a narrow Senate confirmation.

The former Fox News host faced allegations about sexual assault and excessive drinking, which he called smears.

Secretary Pete Hegseth said the Defense Department will support "mass deportations in support of the president's objective."