The US upper house, the Senate, has approved Pete Hegseth, a former presenter of Fox News, as the Secretary of Defense. Once approved by the Senate, Hegseth will take over the leadership of the US Department of Defense, the Pentagon.

Vice President J.D. Vance cast the deciding vote after equal votes were cast for and against him in the vote in the 100-member Senate. Hegseth, a right-wing commentator, is a controversial figure on the issue of sexual abuse and alcoholism. Hegseth, who is also an ex-military officer, says that women should not be given a role in war. 

Three senators from the Republican Party have opposed his appointment. Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska opposed Hegseth's nomination. Collins and Murkowski had previously said he was unfit for defense secretary based on his past and inexperience.