President Donald Trump said Friday that he wasn't expecting Republican Sens. Lisa Murkowski (Alaska) and Susan Collins (Maine) to vote against his controversial nominee for secretary of Defense, Army veteran and former Fox News host Pete Hegseth.

At the White House, President Donald Trump said he was surprised that two senators have publicly said they'll vote against his nominee to lead the Defense Department.

Even as handicappers adjudged Pete Hegseth ’s confirmation as secretary of Defense to be all but certain, not one but two Republican senators indicated a hard pass on the poorly qualified bad boy from Fox News.

The procedural vote of 51-49 put the Fox News host on the path for approval Friday evening, after senators engage in 30 hours of debate. If McConnell would’ve voted “no,” it would’ve forced Vice President J.D. Vance to break a tie on the Senate floor.

Donald Trump may not have done his nominee to be the next secretary of defense any favors as he left the White House on Friday morning. On Thursday two Republican Senators Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Susan Collins of Maine made it clear they would vote no on Trump's pick.

Moderate GOP Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska has broken her silence, saying she won't be voting to confirm Pete Hegseth as secretary of defense.

Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska became the first Republican to come out against Pete Hegseth ’s nomination to become the Secretary of Defense.

The usual RINOs may vote against President Donald Trump’s secretary of defense nominee, Pete Hegseth, causing a tie vote.

A defining duo of the first Donald Trump administration is back.

The Alaska senator announced on Thursday that “she cannot in good conscience” support Pete Hegseth’s nomination for Defense Secretary.