Mitch McConnell sent a 'veiled warning' to Trump with vote against Hegseth: report

With his "no" vote on Fox News personality Pete Hegseth's nomination to become the first secretary of defense during Donald Trump's second administration, influential former Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) served notice to the newly elected president, his cabinet nominees and fellow Republicans that he plans to be his own man as he finishes out his term.

According to a report from Politico, as he stepped down as the majority leader, passing the baton to close associate Sen. John Thune (R-SD), McConnell secured for himself a powerful chairmanship "that will give him control over more than $800 billion dollars in yearly defense spending," putting the controversial Hegseth under his thumb.

After voting against Hegseth, joining Senate colleagues Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) and Susan Collins (R-ME), McConnell made it clear when he talked about Trump's pick that the new Pentagon leader will face a "daily test with staggering consequences for the security of the American people and our global interests.”

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“Mr. Hegseth has failed, as yet, to demonstrate that he will pass this test. But as he assumes office, the consequences of failure are as high as they have ever been,” he added.

According to Politico's Jordain Carney and Connor O'Brien, earlier this year, during a Senate floor speech, the Kentucky Republican "sent a veiled warning" about Trump's picks" that he appears to be following through on." McConnell vowed "to confirm nominees to national security roles whose record and experience will make them immediate assets -- not liabilities -- in the pursuit of peace through strength."

The report adds, "McConnell's 'peace through strength' threat does not end with Hegseth. McConnell’s vote now must be viewed as seriously in doubt on Tulsi Gabbard’s director of national intelligence nomination and possibly Kash Patel’s FBI director pick. Given his childhood bout with polio, he’s also seen as a possible opponent of the HHS secretary nomination for Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who has questioned the efficacy and safety of vaccines."

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