Sen. Joni Ernst Might be Warming Up to Pete Hegseth ‘After ‘Encouraging Conversations’
“As I support Pete through this process, I look forward to a fair hearing based on truth, not anonymous sources.”
Sen. Joni Ernst (R-IA) seems to have changed her tone on President-elect Donald Trump’s Defense Secretary nominee Pete Hegseth.
Ernst has received a ton of backlash because she wouldn’t automatically commit to confirming Hegseth.
Ernst serves on the Senate Committee on Armed Services. She’s the first female combat veteran elected to the senate. She’s also a rape survivor.
Hegseth and Ernst held their second interview today.
From The Des Moines Register:
“I appreciate Pete Hegseth’s responsiveness and respect for the process,” said Ernst, who has been facing increased pressure to offer an endorsement of Trump’s nominee.
“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. As I support Pete through this process, I look forward to a fair hearing based on truth, not anonymous sources.”
I’m seeing way too many headlines saying Ernst will vote for Hegseth.
However:
Ernst’s staff would not clarify whether her statement means she will vote in support of Hegseth’s nomination.
“She supports Pete through this process,” spokesperson Kelsi Daniell said in a text message. Ernst echoed that to CNN, saying, “I support the process.”
Raju: You said supporting the process. It doesn't sound like you're a yes yet. Is that fair?
Ernst: I am supporting the process, pic.twitter.com/2VnffvmeeM
— Acyn (@Acyn) December 9, 2024
Hegseth has maintained professionalism throughout the process, never bad mouthing Ernst or her concerns.
He shared a picture of them after the interview.
I want to thank @SenJoniErnst for taking the time to meet with me again today. She has long been a leader on many important defense issues—which I deeply appreciate. I welcome her ongoing counsel.
I am grateful for Sen. Ernst's support through this process. pic.twitter.com/NrRRRO9qzh
— Pete Hegseth (@PeteHegseth) December 9, 2024
After their first interview, Ernst refused to commit to a yes vote. The media and the left have been printing stories about sexual assault allegations, alcohol abuse allegations, and mismanaging his nonprofits.
At the time, Ernst spoke to Fox News:
“We talked about a number of those issues and we will continue with the vetting process,” Ernst said. “I think that that is incredibly important, so again all I’m saying is we had a very frank and productive discussion, and I know that we will continue to have conversation in the upcoming months.”
Hemmer pressed Ernst and said “it doesn’t sound in your answer that you’ve gotten to a yes.”
“I think you are right,” Ernst said. “I think for a number of our senators, they want to make sure that any allegations have been cleared and that’s why we have to have a very thorough vetting process…”
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Comments
She’s not ‘warming up’.
She thought she could use the obvious lamestream media smears as a pathetic excuse, and she was just stupid enough to think she could quietly backstab him while Graham convinced Trump to put her in his place.
Instead what happened is every bit of her RINO nonsense over the last few years has been dug up and publicly exposed, and she’s desperate to stop the bleeding.
“Ernst has received a ton of backlash”
When they feel the heat, they’re more likely to see the light.
“Instead what happened is every bit of her RINO nonsense over the last few years has been dug up and publicly exposed, and she’s desperate to stop the bleeding.”
Agreed. I think some of these RINO’s, and other RINO-adjacent Senators such as Ernst, are beginning to realize that this time there may be actual consequences for their failure to back Trump’s nominees.
You never see the Democrats pulling that kind of crap.
And Ernst supported many of Biden’s nominees, yet she won’t support conservative choices.
She deserves being primaried out for a real conservative who will serve her constituents and not donors and the old GOP! Maybe she’s aware of a primary challenge being funded by Elon and IS seeing the error of her ways??
Well, good.
If she doesn’t, well, she’s up again in 2026.
So this vote alone would be enough to get her the nomination in 26? Low bar.
she has the nomination in ’26, this clarity in her thinking negates a primary challenge
Joni is a day late and a dollar sh0rt. She Bud Lighted her political career.
She will be primaried in 2026 and probably be toast.
It’s interesting that she got backed into a corner to the point where they only thing left to her was to support pete.
Or it might be she fond of her gig. Those phone lines sure literally up.
Ernst is a dirtbag. She has been ever since she came into the Senate. This is nothing new. She really needs to be stripped of all committee seats – ALL – and she certainly needs to be taken off of the DOGE group. She is totally untrustworthy and, basically, a democrat.
Of course, nothing will be taken of while Thune is majority leader … The Senate GOP needs a thorough cleaning out. We cannot continue with the same sort of back-stabbing treachery that post-turtle McConnell has carried out for some 15 years. Thune is just McConnell’s toadie, so someone has to make it clear to him that the post-turtle is on his way out and will not be able to give Thune any more cover.
Democrats supported with a 100% vote all the Dem cabinet picks for the last 40 years, many of which are extremely troubling. It is only Republicans that are expected to break ranks and please the MSM no matter the lies, exaggerations completely ridiculous fantasies put forth. Like Ernst, they seem susceptible to the insincere praise of the MSM.
Money
Primary her
Not unless she votes against Hegseth.
She voted for EVERY SINGLE ONE of Biden’s cabinet picks. She votes about a third of the time for the stuff Biden supports.
Iowa can do much better.
Even if she does. They should all be made to work for their seats.
Maybe, just maybe, it’s the rumours …
Republican senator Joni Ernst is accused of cheating on her husband with a soldier, ‘lying out nude on the patio’ and dating men in D.C. while she was married – but she says her ex was a violent cheat
She will be facing a primary challenger, amply financed by Elon in 2026, so here’s hoping Iowa shows some freaking intelligence and boots her Democrat booty.
Iowa needs to get rid of her.
She’s not warming up because she wants to. She’s warming up to avoid a primary.
Hegseth will be eaten alive by the DoD bureaucracy. Real Pentagon reform will not come from a guy who literally has to promise to quit drinking to get the job.
Iowa need to primary this RINO.