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A fierce battle is unfolding over Pete Hegseth’s Secretary of Defense nomination, with Senator Joni Ernst reportedly leading a determined opposition campaign.
Inside sources reveal Ernst has been directly petitioning former President Trump, suggesting herself as an alternative while simultaneously working to undermine Hegseth’s nomination. The situation has grown increasingly complex as additional candidates, including Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, emerge as potential alternatives.
Senator Joni Ernst (R) voted to confirm Lloyd Austin for Secretary of Defense who turned our military into a woke laughingstock but is refusing to say if she will confirm Pete Hegseth.
So she supports all this trash but doesn’t support a strong Conservative who will strengthen… pic.twitter.com/F2nKpoIQy6
— Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) December 5, 2024
The Iowa Senator’s strategy reportedly includes multiple appeals to Trump and suggestions of organizing female senators against Hegseth. Despite maintaining a professional facade during their Wednesday meeting, Ernst’s behind-the-scenes maneuvers tell a different story.
“She’s waging a campaign to replace Pete with herself,” an anonymous Trump ally informed reporters.
Following their meeting, Ernst shared on X (formerly Twitter), “I appreciate Pete Hegseth’s service to our country, something we both share. Today, as part of the confirmation process, we had a frank and thorough conversation.”
The Senator later confirmed her undecided stance, revealing she hasn’t committed to supporting Hegseth’s nomination.
Mark Levin weighed in on the situation, stating, “I am told that Joni Ernst is the ringleader seeking to derail Pete Hegseth’s nomination by President Trump for Defense Secretary.”
He added, “She has worked to organize Republican opposition in the Senate and deny Hegseth a rollcall vote on his nomination. All she needs is 4 or 5 Republicans to go along with her. She has also been involved in a press campaign against Hegseth. Lindsey Graham has also lobbied hard against Hegseth.”
Ernst’s office has dismissed these allegations as baseless Washington rumors, maintaining that her meeting with Hegseth was standard procedure.
Paul Rieckhoff, Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans for America Founder, highlighted Ernst’s crucial role, telling Nicole Wallace on *Deadline*, “Right now, the key to all this, I think, is Joni Ernst. You asked me who is going to be key here. Joni Ernst is a combat veteran, more moderate than Pete Hegseth, and a sexual assault survivor.”
“He has to sit across from her and explain how he’s going to effectively lead people like her—how he’s going to pass her criteria to be the leader of a military that has 200,000 women, especially after he made the policy position that he wants to remove women from the military.”
A message to @DOGE: Be weary of Joni Ernst. She cannot be trusted. @dbongino reveals that Lindsey Graham and Joni Ernst are the two Senators that are spearheading the slanderous attacks on Pete Hegseth.
If she’s willing to take down Pete, she’s willing to sabotage the mission… pic.twitter.com/uoWvtuOjgH
— James Jinnette (@james_jinnette1) December 4, 2024
“As I mentioned before, he has implied that women are not equal. He’s essentially saying to Joni Ernst, you are not equal to me; you can’t do the same things I do. Now, if she votes no or comes out of this meeting saying she has reservations, I think he’s done. At that point, I believe Trump will either put DeSantis forward or suggest Ernst herself as an alternative,” Rieckhoff added.
Senator Lindsey Graham has joined the opposition, expressing concerns about “disturbing” allegations against Hegseth. In a CBS News interview, Graham remarked, “I think some of these articles are very disturbing. Some of the things have to be addressed, and we’ll see.”
