Team Trump Got Joni Ernst to Support Pete Hegseth by Making ‘Life Extremely Uncomfortable’: She ‘Got the Message Loud and Clear’

(AP Photo/Susan Walsh, File)

Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA) said she would “support” for Defense Secretary-designate Pete Hegseth on Monday, just a few days after she had said that she was not yet a “yes” on his nomination.

According a report from Politico, Ernst’s change-of-heart came after a pressure campaign from allies of President-elect Donald Trump that made her “life extremely uncomfortable.”

Last Thursday, after meeting with Hegseth, who has been accused of sexual assault and alcohol abuse, Ernst, a veteran and sexual assault survivor, told Fox News’ Bill Hemmer that she was undecided on his nomination.

“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,” she said at the time.

On Monday, after another meeting with Hegseth, Ernst changed her tune in a statement:

I appreciate Pete Hegseth’s responsiveness and respect for the process. Following our encouraging conversations, 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 — and who will prioritize and strengthen my work to prevent sexual assault within the ranks. As I support Pete through this process, I look forward to a fair hearing based on truth, not anonymous sources.

Politico suggests that her shift was the product of more than just the pair’s meeting, though:

In recent days, allies of Trump adopted an approach that is not novel for the president-elect and his followers: Make life extremely uncomfortable for anyone who dares to oppose him. The swarm of MAGA attacks that Sen. Joni Ernst has experienced is a warning of what’s in store for others who express skepticism of his personnel choices.

Days after signaling she continued to have serious concerns about confirming Hegseth, Ernst on Monday sounded a different note. She described their conversation Monday afternoon as “encouraging,” said she would “support” Hegseth through the process, touted some of the commitments he made to her about what he would do in the role, and suggested she would only take allegations against him seriously if they come from named accusers.

The change in tune followed an aggressive push for Hegseth by top Trump allies and supporters, as well as a defiant performance by the Defense secretary nominee that has Trump’s team bullish on him getting confirmed. But it’s not just Hegseth. Trump allies believe his choice to lead the FBI, Kash Patel, and his nominee for director of national intelligence, Tulsi Gabbard, are in a stronger position as well.

One Trump ally told the outlet that “Joni, I’m told, got the message loud and clear” after “receiving an onslaught of criticism from MAGA activists.”