Trump’s Team Pressured Joni Ernst to Support Pete Hegseth: She ‘Understood the Message Clearly’ After Facing Intense Criticism

Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA) announced on Monday that she would support Pete Hegseth as Defense Secretary, even though just a few days earlier she said she wasn’t sure about backing him.

Ernst, who served in the military and is a survivor of sexual assault, met with Hegseth last week and said she needed more time to decide.

She explained that many senators, including herself, wanted to ensure that allegations against Hegseth, including sexual assault and alcohol abuse, were thoroughly investigated before making a decision. At that time, she was cautious and didn’t commit to supporting him.

On Monday, after another meeting with Hegseth, Ernst changed her position and released a statement saying she now supported him. She said their conversations were encouraging and that Hegseth promised to take important steps if confirmed.

These promises included conducting a full audit of the Pentagon, choosing a senior official focused on maintaining high standards in the military, and working to prevent sexual assault among service members.

Ernst said she appreciated his responsiveness and looked forward to a fair hearing where decisions would be based on facts, not anonymous allegations.

Reports from Politico suggested that Ernst’s decision may not have been based solely on her meeting with Hegseth. In the days after her initial hesitation, allies of President-elect Donald Trump started a pressure campaign to push Ernst toward supporting him.

Trump’s supporters and MAGA activists strongly criticized Ernst, making it clear they were unhappy with her hesitation. Sources said this made her “life extremely uncomfortable” as the criticism continued to build.

One Trump ally revealed that Ernst “got the message loud and clear” after facing backlash from MAGA supporters.

This pressure campaign reflects a strategy often used by Trump’s team to deal with anyone who questions or opposes his decisions. In this case, the pressure from Trump’s allies seems to have played a significant role in Ernst’s shift to supporting Hegseth.

While Ernst is now backing Hegseth, his nomination remains controversial due to past allegations against him. However, Trump’s team appears confident in his chances of being confirmed, thanks to strong support from his allies and a concerted effort to silence opposition.