That of President-elect Donald Trump Allies are expected to step up their criticism of Iowa Republican Sen. Joni Ernst as she hesitates to offer support for Trump’s defense secretary pick, Pete Hegseth.
“It’s as simple as this: If you oppose President Trump’s nominees, you oppose Trump’s agenda and there will be a political price to pay for that. We are well aware that some senators in the establishment are trying to undermine the president’s nominees to make him look weak and hurt him politically, and we’re simply not going to allow that to happen,” a top Trump ally told Fox News Digital.
Trump nominated Hegseth, a former National Guard officer, as secretary of defense last monthstating “with Pete at the helm, America’s enemies know – our military will be great again and America will never back down.” Hegseth was the host of “Fox & Friends Weekend” before Trump’s nomination.
Hegseth has since traveled to Capitol Hill to meet with Republican senators to rally support as he fights allegations of sexual misconduct and excessive drinking. Hegseth has denied any wrongdoing.
CONSERVATIVE GROUP COMPILE LIST OF “WAKED” SENIOR OFFICERS THEY WANT PETE HEGSETH TO READ THE LIST
WASHINGTON, DC – OCTOBER 17: Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA) speaks to reporters following a closed-door lunch meeting with Senate Republicans at the U.S. Capitol on October 17, 2023 in Washington , D.C. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) spoke on a range of issues, including U.S. support for Israel in the wake of Hamas terrorist attacks. (Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty Images) (Drew Angerer/Getty Images)
Ernst serves on the Senate Armed Services Committee, which will hold the confirmation hearing for the nominee for secretary of defense, and met with Hegseth last week. Ernst, however, refused to commit to voting in favor of Hegseth.
“Pete Hegseth and I will continue our constructive conversations as we move forward through this process together. We plan to meet again next week. At a minimum, we agree that he deserves the opportunity to outline his vision for our warfighters in a meeting a fair trial,” Ernst said last week after his meeting with Hegseth.
Hegseth added in his own comment on the meeting with Ernst, that he had a “substantial conversation with Senator Ernst, I appreciate her sincere commitment to defense policy and look forward to meeting with her again this week next”.
Pete Hegseth, President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee for secretary of Defense, is joined by his wife, Jennifer Rauchet, as they walk through the basement of the Capitol, Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein) (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)
Reports surfaced last week claiming that Trump had lost confidence in his nominee as Democrats criticized the choice and some Republicans, like Sen. Lindsey Graham, remarked that the allegations against Hegseth were “troubling.”
Trump refuted those claims last week when he doubled down on his support for Hegseth in a Truth Social article, while Vice President-elect JD Vance also said Team Trump “would not give up on this nomination.”
“Pete Hegseth is doing great. His support is strong and deep,” Trump wrote Friday on Truth Social. “He will be a fantastic and energetic Secretary of Defense, who will lead with charisma and competence. Pete is a WINNER, and there is nothing that can be done to change that!!!”
Ernst is a retired lieutenant colonel in the Iowa National Guard and spoke Saturday before the Reagan National Defense Forum, where she spoke about her advocacy for survivors of military sexual assault.
Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA) speaks with reporters following the weekly Senate Republican Policy Luncheon at the U.S. Capitol February 14, 2023 in Washington, DC. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
“I’m a survivor of sexual assault, so I’ve worked really hard on sexual assault measures in the military, so I’d like to know a little bit more about that, and I’d like to learn more about the role of women in our society in the great American military,” Ernst said, according to Politico.
PETE HEGSETH SAYS HE WILL STAND HERE IN THIS FIGHT AFTER MEETING WITH SENATORS
She added that she was “excited” about meeting Hegseth, “but there will be a very thorough vetting before he moves forward.”
Pete Hegseth, President-elect Donald Trump’s pick for secretary of Defense, speaks with reporters following a meeting with senators on Capitol Hill, Thursday, Nov. 21, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/Rod Lamkey, Jr.) (AP Photo/Rod Lamkey, Jr.)
Hegseth will return to Capitol Hill this week to rally support for his nomination as conservatives and Trump supporters step up their criticism of Ernst and other colleagues who have stagnated in their support for Hegseth despite the vote to confirm Biden’s nominees almost four years ago.
“If you are a Republican senator who voted for Lloyd Austin, but you criticize @PeteHegseth, then you may not be in the right political party!” Don Trump Jr. wrote about
“Joni Ernst was as bad as a Senator long before that. The rest of the country is just discovering it. However, defeating an incumbent U.S. senator requires high identification, connections, and fundraising potential,” talk show host Steve Deace wrote on X. “I am one of the few people in Iowa who own all three. I don’t want to be a senator, but I’m willing to prioritize it for the sake of the cause if I’m assured of Trump’s support. Or I’m willing to throw my support and my network behind someone else, President Trump. rather prefers Joni Ernst as primary.”
A conservative nonprofit, Building America’s Future, told the Daily Caller he is spending half a million dollars on ads supporting Hegseth as SecDef, while calling on voters to rally their respective senators to support the candidate.
“America needs a Secretary of Defense who knows what it means to fight and understands the price of freedom. Pete Hegseth is a patriot, a decorated veteran, and a warrior who will stop at nothing to keep Canada safe. America,” the ad says.
“The deep state is trying to stop his nomination, but Pete isn’t backing down. Call your senator today and urge him to confirm Pete Hegseth as Secretary of Defense,” the ad continues.
PETE HEGSETH ACCELERATES PENTAGON PITCHING WITH BACK-TO-BACK MEETINGS ON CAPITOL HILL
Republican presidential candidate, former U.S. President Donald Trump, takes the stage during a campaign rally at Desert Diamond Arena August 23, 2024 in Glendale, Arizona. The rally, held in partnership with Turning Point PAC and Turning Point Action, comes two weeks after Democratic presidential candidate Vice President Harris held a rally at the same location. (Rebecca Noble/Getty Images)
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Ernst has found herself at odds with the Republican Party and Trump before, including in comments during the first Trump administration and over the summer, where she spoke favorably of transgender people serving in the military. During the Trump administration in 2018, the 45th president officially authorized the Pentagon to ban transgender people from joining the military, with few exceptions, after pledging to do so in 2017.
Fox News Digital reached out to Ernst’s press office on Sunday but did not immediately receive a response.
Brie Stimson of Fox News Digital contributed to this report.