President Donald Trump took notice on Friday of two old sparring partners — Sens. Susan Collins (R-Maine) and Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), who voted against advancing Pete Hegseth’s Defense secretary nomination Thursday.
“I was very surprised that Collins and Murkowski would do that,” Trump told reporters as he left the White House on Friday.
The two moderate Republicans vote with their party most of the time, but came under intense scrutiny during the first Trump administration because of their willingness to break ranks on some high-profile votes, including Cabinet and judicial nominees and a high-stakes GOP health care plan.
Thursday’s vote suggested Collins and Murkowski are ready to assume their old role as sometime skeptics. But their GOP colleagues are quick to defend the pair, noting they largely vote with the majority and are able to win states that would be out of reach for other Republicans.
Trump’s comments come a day after he was asked in the Oval Office about their no votes on Hegseth, responding, “No surprises there.” Trump on Friday also appeared to suggest that former GOP Leader Mitch McConnell was a “no” vote on Hegseth. The Kentucky Republican voted to advance Hegseth’s nomination on Thursday. A final vote on Hegseth is expected Friday night.
Irrespective of Trump’s comments, Collins and Murkowski privately told Senate GOP leadership about their intention to vote against Hegseth. Unlike at some points in Trump’s first administration, opposition from the two is not enough to sink a nominee. Hegseth can lose three GOP senators as long as Vice President JD Vance is available to break a tie.
Asked if he had notified the White House about who might oppose Hegseth, Senate Majority Leader John Thune said on Friday that “obviously they have a vested interest in all of this so we’ve been communicating with them.”
