What a difference a week can make!
As President-elect Trump's defense secretary nominee Pete Hegseth returns to Capitol Hill on Tuesday to meet with more Republican senators, his once seemingly shaky nomination is now on firmer ground. It seems so.
Although Mr. Hegseth's confirmation is still far from certain, President Trump's very public support, behind-the-scenes efforts by Vice President-elect Sen. J.D. Vance, and Mr. Hegseth's own determination make it seem certain. It seems that the previous designation has been revived. Towards life support.
“We're looking forward to getting these confirmation votes,” a confident Hegseth said Monday night in an interview on Fox News' “Hannity.”
What Pete Hegseth told Fox News' Sean Hannity
Pete Hegseth gives a thumbs up while walking with his wife, Jennifer Hegseth, to meet with Sen. Joni Ernst, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, at the Capitol on Monday, Dec. 9, 2024. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)
Support for Hegseth to protect Trump and other controversial Cabinet members after the president-elect's first attorney general nominee, former Rep. Matt Gaetz, ended his confirmation bid amid controversy All courts are reporting on President Trump's political trajectory. Pick.
“If the Trump world had allowed a few establishment senators to veto a second nominee, it would have led to a frenzy for Trump’s other nominees. “The idea in the world was that we had to protect Pete, not just to protect Pete, but also to protect the other candidates,” said President Trump, who requested anonymity to speak more freely. a longtime adviser told Fox News.
How many cents? Ernst talks about Hegseth's appointment
Hegseth, an Army National Guard soldier who served in the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq and was a longtime Fox News host until last month, has been the focus of numerous reports highlighting a series of allegations of drinking and sexual misconduct. There is. A report alleges he mismanaged a veterans nonprofit he once led.
Hegseth denies the allegations of abusing the woman, but reached a financial settlement with his accuser in a 2017 incident to avoid litigation. He vowed that he would not drink “a single drop of alcohol” if he was confirmed as defense secretary.
President Trump's defense secretary nominee will meet for the second time with Republican Sen. Joni Ernst of Iowa, the first female veteran elected to the Senate and a member of the Armed Services Committee that will hold Hegseth's confirmation hearing. I was interviewed a few hours later.
Sen. Joni Ernst speaks to reporters after a private lunch with Senate Republicans at the U.S. Capitol on Oct. 17, 2023. (Drew Angerer/Getty Images)
Ernst is a conservative lawmaker who was first elected to the Senate in 2014 and is seen as a crucial vote in the confirmation fight. About Hegseth, She has questioned the role of women in combat in the past.
The senator is also a sexual assault survivor and has a strong record in the Legislature addressing sexual assault and harassment in the military.
After meeting with Hegseth, Ernst said in a statement Monday: “I will support Pete throughout this process and look forward to a fair hearing based on truth, not anonymous sources.” .
Ernst said, “After our encouraging conversations, Pete completed a complete audit of the Department of Defense and established senior officials who protect and prioritize the role and value of service members and service members based on quality and standards, not quotas. “I have promised to elect him,” he said. and strengthen efforts to prevent sexual assault within the ranks. ”
Trump supports Hegseth, but invites DeSantis to Army-Navy game
“It was a great meeting. People don't really know about this. I've known Sen. Ernst for over 10 years,” Hegseth said in an interview with Fox News' Sean Hannity.
“We go to these meetings and listen to what the senators have to say. It's a great advice and consent process. And we're impressed by how thoughtful and serious the senators are about these important issues that concern the Department of Defense. “And you can ask if it's essential,” he continued. “And Joni Ernst is a central figure in that. So being able to have multiple calls and meetings to discuss issues is really, really important. The fact that she's supporting me through this process is extremely important. It is meaningful.” ”
Ernst said in a social media post last week after his first meeting with Hegseth that he had a “candid and thorough” conversation with Trump's defense secretary nominee.
The next day, in an interview on Fox News' “America's Newsroom,” when asked if he was ready to vote to confirm Hegseth, the senator said, “I think you're right.” answered.
Even South Carolina Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham, a longtime Trump ally in the Senate, had expressed serious concerns about Hegseth's nomination.
News outlets including Fox News reported late last week that President Trump may be considering naming Florida Governor Ron DeSantis as defense secretary to replace Hegseth if his nomination fails. Reported.
Trump orbit, criticism of Ernst grows over Hegseth nomination
But on Friday, Trump praised Hegseth on social media.
“Mr. Hegseth is doing very well. His support is much stronger and thicker than fake news,” the president-elect wrote. And he praised Hegseth in a high-profile network television interview last weekend.
Mr. Vance, who will remain a senator from Ohio until he steps down to accept the vice presidency, has been working behind the scenes to solidify support for Mr. Hegseth among his Republican colleagues in the Senate.
“It's fair to say that J.D. is Pete's biggest supporter within Trump circles and has spent much of the past two weeks solidifying support for Pete among his Senate colleagues,” Vance said. political insider told FOX. news.
Meanwhile, Trump's political team and allies, buoyed by grassroots support for Hegseth, have increased their activity.
Corey Lewandowski, a longtime outside adviser to President Trump, told Fox News: “We are working hard to go after U.S. senators who vote against Donald Trump's Cabinet nominations and other nominees.'' There are no resources that we don't use.”
Donald Trump Jr. speaks before his father at a campaign rally in Doral, Florida, on July 9, 2024. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandia)
Donald Trump Jr., the president-elect's eldest son and MAGA heavyweight, took to social media to target the flailing Republican senator.
“If you’re a Republican senator who voted for Lloyd Austin. [President Biden’s defense secretary]But if you criticize @PeteHegseth, you might be in the wrong party!,” Don Trump Jr. wrote in a social media post.
MAGA allies quickly targeted Ernst, talking about the senator's main challenges if he is up for re-election in 2026.
“This is a line to cross. This is not a joke. … The money is already being raised. Donors are calling like crazy. The primaries will begin,” said an influential conservative activist. said radio and television host Charlie Kirk. He co-founded and operates Turning Point USA.
Get to know Donald Trump's Cabinet: Who has been chosen to be the next president so far?
“If you support the president's policies, you're OK. The primaries are marked OK. Don't be surprised if you run into a number of confrontations with the president, Pete Hegseth,” Kirk said on his radio show. , Joni,” he warned. Ernst, if you suddenly find yourself faced with a major challenge in Iowa. ”
State Attorney General Brenna Byrd, who was a prominent supporter of President Trump during the Iowa presidential caucuses last January, wrote a column for Breitbart urging Hegseth's confirmation.
Byrd did not mention Ernst by name, but said, “DC believes it can ignore the voices of voters and entertain slander from the same media that has been pushing lies for years.'' targeted politicians.
And longtime Iowa-based conservative commentator and media personality Steve Diese has used social media and his radio show to consider a primary challenge to Ernst. He emphasized that
“If I'm confident that I can get Trump's support, I'm going to support her for the cause,” said DeAce, who endorsed DeSantis in the Iowa caucuses. I'm going to throw it behind someone else.” President Trump wants to select Joni Ernst in the general election instead. ”
Pete Hegseth responds to reporters during a meeting with Sen. Mike Rounds, R.S., a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, on Thursday, Dec. 5, 2024, at the Capitol. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)
It is also his rebellion that helps Hegseth.
“This is not a process that will be attempted in the media. I will not answer to anyone in this group, I will not answer to any of you, I will not answer to that camera at all,” Hegseth told reporters on Thursday. “I will answer to President Trump, who received $10,000,” he said. I vote on behalf of the 100 senators and committee members who are participating in this process, and on behalf of my wife and family. ”
Click to get the FOX News app
“The left is trying to turn this into a media trial, a show trial, and we're not going to allow that to happen,” Hegseth said on Fox News' “Hannity.”
FOX News' Emma Colton, Cameron Cawthorn, Tyler Olson and Chad Purgram contributed to this article
