Pete Hegseth’s confirmation vote from the Senate on Friday night, in a tie broken by Vice President J.D. Vance, was helped by a North Carolina Republican senator and a one-on-one meeting between the two.

Social media critics raked Republican Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC) over the coals after he, along with Vice President J.D. Vance, proved to be the deciding votes to confirm former Fox News weekend co-host Pete Hegseth to serve as President Donald Trump's secretary of Defense.

Late Friday evening, North Carolina’s Sen. Thom Tillis was the key vote leading to confirmation of Pete Hegseth, 44, as the new US Secretary of Defense. Tillis’ “aye” tied the

Veteran and former Fox News host Pete Hegseth will be the next secretary of defense, after he was confirmed late Friday by the U.S. Senate by the narrowest of margins

The North Carolina senator provided pivotal 50th “yes” vote to confirm Hegseth as defense secretary.

Vice President J.D. Vance cast the deciding vote to break a 50-50 tie after three Republican senators opposed Trump’s controversial choice for defense secretary.

Vice President J.D. Vance was on hand to cast a tie-breaking vote, unusual in the Senate for Cabinet nominees, who typically win wider support.

Most of President Donald Trump's successful Cabinet nominees so far — including, as of Monday evening, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent — were confirmed by comfortable margins. But Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth squeaked by 51 to 50, with Vice President J.D. Vance casting the second-ever tie-breaking vote for a Cabinet secretary.