Breaking: Joni Ernst Announces Game-Changing Decision on Pete Hegseth

Iowa GOP Senator Joni Ernst announced Monday her support for Pete Hegseth’s confirmation as the next secretary of defense, marking a significant shift among Republican senators.

Ernst had previously been one of the most high-profile GOP lawmakers hesitant to back President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee.

“I think for a number of our senators, they want to make sure that any allegations have been cleared, and that’s why we have to have a very thorough vetting process,” Ernst explained during an appearance on Fox News.

However, after meeting with Hegseth on Monday, Ernst released a statement saying, “I appreciate Pete Hegseth’s responsiveness and respect for the process. Following our encouraging conversation, Pete committed to completing a full audit of the Pentagon and selecting a senior official who will uphold the roles and value of our servicemen and women, based on quality and standards, not quotas.”

She added, “As I support Pete through this process, I look forward to a hearing based on truth, not anonymous sources.”

Hegseth characterized his meeting with Ernst as “very good,” emphasizing their shared connection as combat veterans focused on the military's well-being.

Last week, NBC News published a report citing 10 anonymous sources, described as current or former Fox News employees, who alleged that Hegseth occasionally drank excessively.

Hegseth denied the claims during an interview with Megyn Kelly, challenging critics to “check the tape” for evidence of him being intoxicated or hungover on air.

Kelly commented, “I did see every single member of ‘Fox & Friends’ … go on the air and say, ‘This is BS.’”

Hegseth also pledged that, if confirmed as secretary of defense, he would treat the role like a combat deployment, refraining from alcohol entirely while in office.