The fight over President-elect Trump’s pick for Secretary of Defense, Pete Hegseth, is turning into a political soap opera—and Senator Joni Ernst seems to be auditioning for the lead role. According to The Federalist, Ernst has been waging an “aggressive personal jihad” against Hegseth’s nomination, reportedly bombarding Trump with phone calls urging him to pull the plug. All this while putting on a friendly face for a meeting with Hegseth just hours after one of those calls. Nice, right?
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.
— Joni Ernst (@SenJoniErnst) December 4, 2024
Let’s set the stage. Pete Hegseth, a Fox News host and combat veteran with multiple tours under his belt, has been Trump’s top choice for Defense Secretary. But the nomination is under fire thanks to unproven accusations from anti-Trump media outlets. The worst of these? A 2017 allegation that Hegseth s*xually аssаulted a woman during a conference. The problem is, a thorough investigation—including police reports, witness testimony, and surveillance footage—cleared him. The encounter was consensual. Case closed.
But not for Ernst. She’s using these debunked claims as ammo to kneecap Hegseth’s chances. And it’s not just her. Senator Lindsey Graham has also been working behind the scenes, reportedly lobbying for Ernst herself to replace Hegseth as the nominee. Coincidence? Hardly.
Here’s where it gets rich. Ernst has her own history of making explosive allegations. She accused her ex-husband of cheating on her with a subordinate while she was deployed and even claimed he physically assaulted her. He denies it all, of course, but the senator’s own baggage didn’t stop her from sitting in judgment of Hegseth, whose supposed offenses are supported by anonymous sources and recycled hit pieces.
Ernst’s tactics are making waves. Some sources say she’s threatening to rally female senators against Hegseth if Trump doesn’t withdraw his nomination. Others accuse her of being more interested in securing the job for herself than in addressing real concerns. If this sounds like political opportunism wrapped in a cloak of virtue, that’s because it is.
The stakes are high. Republicans will hold a slim 53-seat majority in the Senate next month, and they can’t afford more than three defections if Democrats line up against Hegseth. But with Ernst and Graham stoking the flames, it’s not just Hegseth’s nomination on the line—it’s the GOP’s unity.
For Ernst, this scorched-earth campaign might win her headlines, but it won’t win her any fans among the Republican base, who are tired of the backstabbing. If she thinks undermining a decorated veteran will play well with voters, she’s in for a rude awakening.
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