HUGE WIN: Joni Ernst Now Confirms She Will Support Pete Hegseth Nomination

Sen. Joni Ernst — who was probably the most vocal about her reluctance to support President Trump’s Defense Secretary pick Pete Hegseth — has just confirmed that yes, she will be supporting him.

After previously saying that she was not ready to vote to confirm Hegseth, Ernst announced today that after having a “very good meeting” with him, she now says that she is ready to “support Pete through the process.”

This is great news!

Check it out:

🚨 #BREAKING: Joni Ernst announces she WILL be “supporting Pete Hegseth” through the nomination process, after Pete says they had a “very good meeting”

GREAT news! 🔥

“Pete committed to completing a full audit of the Pentagon and selecting a senior official who will uphold the… pic.twitter.com/BKQiYDwrbZ

— Nick Sortor (@nicksortor) December 9, 2024

🚨BREAKING: Senator Joni Ernst announces her SUPPORT For Pete Hegseth as Secretary of Defense.

Ernst says she believes Pete Hegseth and not “anonymous sources”

WE WON: pic.twitter.com/j73zDDkdtV

— Benny Johnson (@bennyjohnson) December 9, 2024

There’s a lesson to be learned in this: any RINO senators who try to get in the way of President Trump’s mandate and what the American people they represent want better shape up or ship out!

DC_Draino put it best:

🚨VICTORY – Joni Ernst confirms she now supports Pete Hegseth for SecDef

Make no mistake, YOU are the reason she did this

She wants more wars & hates the MAGA movement, but we raised our voices & forced her to get in line or get the hell out of the Senate

Keep going!! pic.twitter.com/44mzV6L0Ja

— DC_Draino (@DC_Draino) December 9, 2024

The New York Post has more:

Sen. Joni Ernst signaled Monday that she is warming to Defense Secretary designee Pete Hegseth after days of being reticent over the accusations leveled against him.

The 54-year-old Ernst, who is a rape survivor, revealed that she had “encouraging” discussions with the embattled former Fox News host after their second known meeting in a week — and echoed his frustrations with anonymous sources attacking the Cabinet pick’s personal history.

“I appreciate Pete Hegseth’s responsiveness and respect for the process,” Ernst (R-Iowa), who sits on the Senate Armed Services Committee, said in a statement. “I support Pete through this process, I look forward to a fair hearing based on truth, not anonymous sources.”

She specifically commended Hegseth for backing key Pentagon reforms that she’s been after — including better financial stewardship and improvements toward preventing sexual assault in the military.

“Following our encouraging conversations, Pete committed to completing a full audit of the Pentagon and selecting a senior official who will uphold the roles and value of our servicemen and women — based on quality and standards, not quotas — and who will prioritize and strengthen my work to prevent sexual assault within the ranks,” she added.

Fox News added:

Republican Sen. Joni Ernst of Iowa, the first female combat veteran elected to the Senate and a member of the Armed Services Committee, has signaled toward supporting President-elect Trump’s nominee for defense secretary.

After meeting on Monday for a second time with Pete Hegseth, Ernst wrote in a statement that “as I support Pete through this process, I look forward to a fair hearing based on truth, not anonymous sources.”

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An Army National Guard officer who deployed to the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq and who until last month was a longtime Fox News host, Hegseth has been the focus of a slew of reports spotlighting a series of drinking and sexual misconduct allegations.

Hegseth has denied allegations that he mistreated women and has vowed that he won’t drink “a drop of alcohol” if confirmed as defense secretary. A separate report showcased allegations Hegseth mismanaged a veterans nonprofit organization that he once led.

Ernst, a conservative lawmaker first elected to the Senate in 2014, is considered a pivotal vote in the confirmation battle over Hegseth, who in the past has questioned the role of women in combat.

The senator is also a survivor of sexual assault who has a strong legislative record of addressing sexual assault and harassment in the military.

She said in her statement that “following our encouraging conversations, Pete committed to completing a full audit of the Pentagon and selecting a senior official who will uphold the roles and value of our servicemen and women – based on quality and standards, not quotas – and who will prioritize and strengthen my work to prevent sexual assault within the ranks.”

Ernst’s office told Fox News on Monday that “the senator has consistently followed the process, which she has said since the beginning, and doing her job as a United States senator.”