Pete Hegseth's confirmation as defense secretary

Gone quiet · last story Jan 24, 2025

What this arc covers

Pete Hegseth's nomination to lead the Pentagon: Donald Trump's pick of him in November 2024, the sexual assault allegation against him and the payment to his accuser, the reports that Trump considered other picks, senators' concerns and his January 2025 confirmation hearing, and his confirmation by a narrow Senate vote.

Pete Hegseth

Earliest story we hold Nov 13, 2024 · 15 stories · 136 independent sources (counted once each) · 72 days

Part ofPete HegsethDonald TrumpUnited States SenateASEANMinnesotaRon DeSantisLindsey GrahamFlorida

Part of Pete Hegseth

  1. Pete Hegseth's confirmation as defense secretaryThis arcNov 13, 2024 – Jan 24, 2025
  2. The Trump administration and the press: Hegseth's Pentagon press restrictionsFeb 1, 2025 – Sep 4, 2026
  3. Hegseth's end to military DEI programs and his new grooming and fitness rulesFeb 8, 2025 – Sep 17, 2026
  4. The Signal chat leak of US strike plans on YemenMar 24 – Dec 3, 2025
  5. Hegseth's removals of senior military officers and cuts to top ranksMay 5, 2025 – Sep 28, 2026
  6. Hegseth's case against Sen. Mark Kelly for urging troops to refuse illegal ordersNov 20, 2025 – May 11, 2026
  7. Rep. Thomas Massie's push to impeach Pete HegsethSep 15 – Sep 18, 2026

Part of Trump's cabinet nominations

  1. Matt Gaetz's withdrawn nomination for attorney general and the House Ethics reportNov 13, 2024 – Apr 2, 2025
  2. Pete Hegseth's confirmation as defense secretaryThis arcNov 13, 2024 – Jan 24, 2025
  3. RFK Jr.'s confirmation as health secretaryNov 14, 2024 – Feb 12, 2025
  4. Marty Makary's time leading the FDA and Heidi Overton's nomination to succeed himNov 23, 2024 – Sep 24, 2026
  5. Kash Patel at the FBI, from his nomination to the fights over his tenureDec 1, 2024 – Sep 15, 2026
  6. Todd Blanche's nomination as attorney generalApr 2 – Aug 8, 2026

Where it standsnewest first · each bar runs left to right by leaning

Jan 24– 262025Pete Hegseth sworn in as defense secretary after narrow Senate vote152 articles · 89 independent sources
16 left, 22 center, 18 right
Jan 21– 232025Trump defense pick Minnesota native Hegseth survives US Senate test vote 51-4918 articles · 18 independent sources
1 left, 3 center, 6 right
Jan 152025Question on ASEAN stumped Hegseth at Senate hearing. What is it and why is it important?23 articles · 12 independent sources
1 left, 4 center, 1 right

Key momentsthe most covered; every story is below

  1. Nov 13 – 14, 2024Trump picks Fox News host and Army veteran Pete Hegseth to serve as secretary of defense112 articles · 64 independent sources
  2. Dec 4 – 5, 2024Pete Hegseth fights to save Pentagon nomination as sources say Trump considers Ron DeSantis82 articles · 36 independent sources
  3. Dec 4 – 7, 2024Trump offers a public show of support for Hegseth and says he believes he can be confirmed45 articles · 32 independent sources
    1. Dec 4, 2024Hegseth tries to rally support as allegations swirl
    2. Dec 7, 2024Donald Trump says he thinks Pete Hegseth can get confirmed in NBC News interview
  4. Jan 14 – 15, 2025Key takeaways from Pete Hegseth's fiery confirmation hearing81 articles · 45 independent sources
  5. Jan 24 – 26, 2025Pete Hegseth sworn in as defense secretary after narrow Senate vote152 articles · 89 independent sources

Who covered it, over timeindependent sources per week, by side

Nov 11Nov 25Dec 9Dec 23Jan 6Jan 20

LeftCenterRight

Point at or tap a week to see its count by side.

Every week as a table
Week ofLeftCenterRightArticles
Nov 11, 2024143021157
Nov 18, 202415019
Dec 2, 2024102212137
Dec 9, 20240044
Jan 13, 2025162814138
Jan 20, 2025162422164

Stories before June 28, 2026 come from archived pages, so who covered them is limited to the outlets we recovered for that period.

21% left · 52% center · 27% right of 136 independent sources among the outlets we track, across 15 stories.

Every storyoldest first

  1. November 2024

    Nov 13– 14Trump picks Fox News host and Army veteran Pete Hegseth to serve as secretary of defense112 articles · 64 independent sources
    13 left, 22 center, 20 right
  2. Nov 13– 15Trump Defense Secretary nominee Pete Hegseth was involved in investigation into 2017 sexual assault allegation21 articles · 17 independent sources
    3 left, 6 center, 3 right
  3. Nov 15– 18Pete Hegseth paid woman after sex assault allegation, lawyer confirms49 articles · 23 independent sources
    4 left, 11 center, 1 right

  4. December 2024

    Dec 3– 4Hegseth faces growing GOP scrutiny as allegations mount5 articles · 5 independent sources
    1 left, 2 center, 2 right
  5. Dec 4– 5Pete Hegseth fights to save Pentagon nomination as sources say Trump considers Ron DeSantis82 articles · 36 independent sources
    6 left, 15 center, 7 right
  6. Dec 4– 7Trump offers a public show of support for Hegseth and says he believes he can be confirmed45 articles · 32 independent sources
    3 left, 10 center, 7 right
  7. Dec 5– 6Hegseth faces senators’ concerns not only about his behavior but also his views on women in combat9 articles · 9 independent sources
    1 left, 2 center, 1 right
  8. Dec 7– 10Sen. Joni Ernst warms up to Pete Hegseth as Defense secretary after ‘encouraging’ conversation on accusations5 articles · 5 independent sources
    0 left, 0 center, 5 right

  9. January 2025

  10. Jan 14Pete Hegseth vows a ‘warrior culture’ if confirmed as Trump’s defense secretary, confronting critics6 articles · 6 independent sources
    0 left, 4 center, 1 right
  11. Jan 14– 15Hegseth confronts allegations of misconduct as senators grill Trump's choice for Pentagon chief25 articles · 17 independent sources
    2 left, 7 center, 0 right
  12. Jan 14– 15Key takeaways from Pete Hegseth's fiery confirmation hearing81 articles · 45 independent sources
    13 left, 13 center, 14 right
  13. Jan 15Question on ASEAN stumped Hegseth at Senate hearing. What is it and why is it important?23 articles · 12 independent sources
    1 left, 4 center, 1 right
  14. Jan 21– 23Trump defense pick Minnesota native Hegseth survives US Senate test vote 51-4918 articles · 18 independent sources
    1 left, 3 center, 6 right
  15. Jan 24– 26Pete Hegseth sworn in as defense secretary after narrow Senate vote152 articles · 89 independent sources
    16 left, 22 center, 18 right