Ernst will vote for Hegseth, handing Trump big win
Sen. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), a key member of the Senate Armed Services Committee who has championed women serving in combat roles, announced Tuesday that she will vote for Pete Hegseth, President-elect Trump’s choice to lead the Pentagon.
Ernst said she would support Hegseth after sitting through his lengthy confirmation hearing Tuesday, where Democrats attacked the nominee for his lack of experience, infidelity and allegations of sexual and financial misconduct.
Hegseth repeatedly defended himself from what he called false, anonymous allegations.
“I take my role very seriously in vetting our nominees but I have to say that there a lot of people who use the opportunity as theater,” she said during an interview with Simon Conway on Newsradio 1040 in Des Moines, referring to Democrats.
“For those of us who want to make sure our men and women in uniform are being led by a strong individual, I think we took it all very seriously. Those that were there just to score political points, I think they failed,” she said.
Asked by the host if she would back Hegseth, Ernst said, “I am breaking news, Simon, I figure you would ask this. Yes, I will be supporting President Trump’s pick for secretary of Defense, Pete Hegseth.”
Ernst's support for Hegseth appears to largely seal the likelihood that he will be confirmed by the entire Senate when he reaches the floor later this month.
Ernst, as an advocate for women serving in combat roles and for cracking down on sexual assault in the military, was initially viewed as a Republican senator who would be extremely skeptical of Hegseth’s nomination, given his past statements on women in combat.
“I’m straight up just saying we should not have women in combat roles. It hasn’t made us more effective. Hasn’t made us more lethal. Has made fighting more complicated,” Hegseth told podcast host Shawn Ryan in early November.
Hegseth gave a different answer on the topic when asked about it at his confirmation hearing Tuesday.
He pledged to Ernst at the hearing that he would support giving women access to combat roles as long as they meet high standards.
Senate observers thought Ernst, herself a rape survivor, might have a hard time voting for Hegseth after it was revealed that a woman accused him of sexual assault at a Republican women’s convention in Monterrey, Calif., in 2017.
Hegseth vigorously denied the assault charge. His lawyer said he paid the accuser as part of a financial settlement linked to a non-disclosure agreement because he thought it could cost him his lucrative job at Fox News.
Ernst has made cracking down on sexual assault in the military one of her top priorities and Hegseth assured her in their private discussions that he would appoint a senior-level official to be in charge of preventing sexual assaults.
He reiterated that pledge to Ernst at Tuesday’s hearing.
Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), a prominent Republican voice on defense issues in the Senate, said after the hearing that Hegseth is in a good position to become the next Pentagon chief.
“Democratic attacks were overly personal and fell flat. It was clear Pete was more prepared for the hearing than my Democratic colleagues,” Graham said.
“With today’s performance, I believe Pete Hegseth’s path to confirmation has been assured,” he declared.
Republicans control a 53-seat Senate majority, which means at least four GOP senators would have to vote against him on the floor for his nomination to fail.
Topics
-
Trump allies reacting to Hegseth's Senate confirmation hearing
President-elect Donald Trump's allies are reacting favorably to Pete Hegseth's performance during his Senate confirmation hearing for the secretary of defense Cabinet role. CBS News' Olivia Rinaldi ...CBS News - 13h -
Despite Trump’s Attacks, Republicans Made Big Gains in Mail Voting
As Republican voters embraced a practice that Donald J. Trump railed against for years, softening his tone only slightly in 2024, the party eroded a key Democratic advantage across the country.The New York Times - 3d -
Trump, Pence shake hands at Jimmy Carter's funeral
President-elect Donald Trump shook hands with his former vice president, Mike Pence, Thursday at former President Jimmy Carter's funeral. Norah O'Donnell anchored CBS News' special report on the ...CBS News - 5d -
Trump and Pence shake hands at Carter's funeral service
President-elect Trump and his former Vice President Mike Pence briefly greeted each other and shook hands as they arrived for the state funeral for former President Jimmy Carter.NBC News - 5d -
Thune has privately told Trump that Hegseth has the votes to be confirmed, sources say
When asked for comment, a spokesman for Senate Majority Leader John Thune said "two things we don't discuss publicly: Whip counts and private conversations with the president."CBS News - Jan. 5 -
Nebraska hands No. 15 UCLA its first Big Ten loss
Brice Williams scored 16 points, Andrew Morgan added 12 off the bench and Nebraska beat No. 15 UCLA 66-58 on Saturday.Yahoo Sports - Jan. 4 -
How Donald Trump reacted to Mike Johnson winning the House speaker vote
President-elect Donald Trump congratulated Mike Johnson on social media after the Louisiana representative won his bid to remain as House speaker. CBS News' Ed O'Keefe has more.CBS News - Jan. 3 -
Speaker Mike Johnson wins vote with help from Reps. Self, Norman
Reps. Keith Self and Ralph Norman, who chose to vote for other lawmakers during the first round of voting for House Speaker, changed their vote at the last minute and secured a win for Louisiana's ...CBS News - Jan. 3 -
Donald Trump, Pete Hegseth and the Honor of the American Military
Donald Trump’s foreign policy may not be as disastrous as that of George W. Bush, whose idealism and hubris led to calamity, but that doesn’t mean it won’t be corrosive.The New York Times - Jan. 2 -
Mike Johnson fights for GOP votes to win House Speaker election
Even as President-elect Trump has said Speaker Mike Johnson has his “complete and total endorsement,” for re-election, Johnson is scrambling to lock down his own party's support, as he'll need ...NBC News - Jan. 2
More from The Hill
-
FAFSA forms to make October release after two-year struggle
The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) forms will be released on Oct. 1 this year, the Department of Education announced on Wednesday, hitting the normal deadline after two chaotic ...The Hill - 4h -
Nearly half of Americans skeptical Trump admin will lower health costs: Poll
Nearly half of Americans don’t believe that the incoming Trump administration will lower health costs, according to a new Gallup poll. The research, conducted after the presidential election, ...The Hill - 4h -
Jeffries: With narrow margin, House GOP can’t ‘pass anything close’ to bill Johnson floating
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) argued House Republicans, with their narrow margin, won’t be able to pass “anything close” to what Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) has been floating. ...The Hill - 5h -
Here are the confirmed attendees at Trump’s inauguration
President-elect Trump’s Inauguration Day is less than a week away and he’s begun to plan who will attend various events in Washington to mark his return to the White House. Trump has invited many ...The Hill - 6h -
California Democrat hits FEMA over assistance claim denials: 'That's not right'
Rep. Judy Chu (D-Calif.), whose district has been damaged by the Eaton Fire, criticized FEMA for reportedly rejecting disaster assistance claims because of a lack of insurance information. "I am ...The Hill - 6h
More in Politics
-
FAFSA forms to make October release after two-year struggle
The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) forms will be released on Oct. 1 this year, the Department of Education announced on Wednesday, hitting the normal deadline after two chaotic ...The Hill - 4h -
Nearly half of Americans skeptical Trump admin will lower health costs: Poll
Nearly half of Americans don’t believe that the incoming Trump administration will lower health costs, according to a new Gallup poll. The research, conducted after the presidential election, ...The Hill - 4h -
Jeffries: With narrow margin, House GOP can’t ‘pass anything close’ to bill Johnson floating
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) argued House Republicans, with their narrow margin, won’t be able to pass “anything close” to what Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) has been floating. ...The Hill - 5h -
Here are the confirmed attendees at Trump’s inauguration
President-elect Trump’s Inauguration Day is less than a week away and he’s begun to plan who will attend various events in Washington to mark his return to the White House. Trump has invited many ...The Hill - 6h -
California Democrat hits FEMA over assistance claim denials: 'That's not right'
Rep. Judy Chu (D-Calif.), whose district has been damaged by the Eaton Fire, criticized FEMA for reportedly rejecting disaster assistance claims because of a lack of insurance information. "I am ...The Hill - 6h