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President-elect Donald Trump Allies are expected to step up criticism of Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, as she stops short of offering support to Trump’s defense secretary, Pete Hegseth.
“It’s really that simple: 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 there are certain establishment senators who they’re trying to shut down the president’s candidates to make him look weak and damage him politically, and we’re just not going to let that happen,” a Trump ally told Fox News Digital.
Trump nominated Hegseth, a former National Guard officer defense secretary last monthsaying “with Pete at the helm, America’s enemies are on notice: our Army will be great again and America will never back down.” Hegseth was host of “Fox & Friends Weekend” before Trump’s nomination.
Since then, Hegseth has been on Capitol Hill meeting with Republican senators to rally support as he battles allegations of sexual misconduct and excessive drinking. Hegseth has denied any wrongdoing.
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WASHINGTON, DC – OCTOBER 17: Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA) speaks to reporters after 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 US support for Israel following the terrorist attacks by Hamas. (Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty Images) (Drew Anger/Getty Images)
Ernst is a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, which will hold a confirmation hearing for the defense secretary nominee, and met with Hegseth last week. Ernst, however, has refrained from committing to a vote in favor of Hegseth.
“Pete Hegseth and I will continue our constructive conversations as we move forward together in this process. We plan to meet again next week. At the very least, we agree that he deserves an opportunity to lay out his vision for our fighters in a fair hearing,” Ernst said last week after meeting with Hegseth.
Hegseth added in his own comment about 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 next week.” .
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 emerged last week that Trump had lost faith in his nominee as Democrats criticized the choice and some Republicans, including Sen. Lindsey Graham, called the allegations against Hegseth “disturbing.”
Trump rejected the claims last week when he doubled down on his support for Hegseth in a Truth Social post, while Vice President-elect JD Vance also said the Trump team is “not abandoning this nomination.”
“Pete Hegseth is doing great. His support is strong and deep,” Trump wrote on Truth Social on Friday. “He will be a fantastic, high-energy Secretary of Defense, one who leads with charisma and skill. Pete is a WINNER, and nothing can be done to change that!!!”
Ernst is a retired lieutenant colonel in the Iowa National Guard and spoke at the Reagan National Defense Forum on Saturday where she addressed her defense of military sexual assault survivors.
Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA) speaks to reporters after the weekly Senate Republican Policy Luncheon at the U.S. Capitol on February 14, 2023 in Washington, DC. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
“I’m a survivor of sexual assault, so I’ve worked a lot on sexual assault measures within the military, so I’d like to hear a little bit more about that and I’d like to know about the role of women in our great United States military,” Ernst said, according to Politico.
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She added that she was “excited” to meet with Hegseth, “but there will be a very thorough investigation before I go ahead.”
Pete Hegseth, President-elect Donald Trump’s pick for secretary of defense, speaks to reporters after 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 stalled on supporting Hegseth despite voting to confirm the Biden nominees almost four years ago.
“If you’re a Republican senator who voted for Lloyd Austin, but criticize @PeteHegseth, you might be in the wrong political party!” Don Trump Jr. wrote to X.
“Joni Ernst was cool Senator long before that. The rest of the country is just now finding out. However, defeating an incumbent U.S. senator requires high name ID, connections, and funding potential,” the show’s host Steve Deace wrote on X. “I’m one of the few people in Iowa with the three I don’t want to be a senator, but I’m willing to prioritize her for the sake of the cause if I’m sure I have Trump’s support. Or am I willing to throw my support and network behind some other President Trump. mostly prefers Joni Ernst.”
A conservative nonprofit, Building America’s Future, said Daily calls is spending half a million dollars on ads endorsing Hegseth for SecDef, while also asking 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 combat veteran, and a warrior who will stop at nothing to keep America safe,” said the announcement
“The Deep State is trying to stop his nomination, but Pete is not backing down. Call your senator today and urge them to confirm Pete Hegseth as Secretary of Defense,” the ad continues.
PETE HEGSETH EXPANDS PENTAGON CAMP WITH MEETINGS SHOWN ON CAPITOL HILL
Republican presidential candidate former United States President Donald Trump takes the stage during a campaign rally at the Desert Diamond Arena on August 23, 2024 in Glendale, Arizona. The rally, held in partnership with Turning Point PAC and Turning Point Action, comes two weeks after US Vice President, Democratic presidential candidate Harris held a rally at the same location. (Rebecca Noble/Getty Images)
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Ernst has previously found himself at odds with the Republican Party and Trump, including in comments both during the first Trump administration and over the summer, where he spoke favorably of transgender people serving in the military. Under the Trump administration in 2018, the 45th president officially authorized the Pentagon to ban transgender people from joining the military, with limited exceptions, after doing so in 2017.
Fox News Digital reached out to Ernst’s press office on Sunday but did not immediately hear back.
Fox News Digital’s Brie Stimson contributed to this report.
