GOP Sen. Joni Ernst officially endorses Pete Hegseth for DOD after initial uncertainty
FIRST ON FOX: Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, formally endorsed Pete Hegseth for defense secretary Tuesday night, despite expressing some initial uncertainty after their first meeting.
“After four years of weakness in the White House, the American people deserve a strong defense secretary,” Ernst told Fox News Digital in an exclusive statement.
Ernst officially announced her support for Hegseth on Tuesday. (Photo: Samuel Corum/Getty Images)
“Our next commander in chief has selected Pete Hegseth to serve in this role, and after our conversations, listening to Iowans, and doing my job as a United States Senator, I will support President Trump’s choice for Secretary of Defense. As I serve on the Armed Services Committee, I will work with Pete to create the deadliest fighting force and hold him to his responsibilities to review the Pentagon, ensuring an opportunity for women in combat while maintaining high standards and selecting a senior official who will deal with and prevent sexual assault in the ranks.”
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President-elect Trump’s pick to lead the Department of Defense (DOD) went before the Senate Armed Services Committee on Tuesday morning, where he faced questions from both Democratic and Republican members.
