Sen. Joni Ernst (R-IA) denied allegations on Thursday that she is spearheading a campaign to block Pete Hegseth’s nomination as Defense Secretary and seek the position for herself. Speaking to RealClearPolitics reporter Philip Wegmann, Ernst insisted she supports a fair confirmation process for Hegseth.
“I don’t have a campaign against Pete,” Ernst said, adding that Hegseth “deserves to have a Senate confirmation hearing.” She emphasized her role in ensuring transparency and thorough vetting for all nominees, claiming, “All the rumblings out there are absolutely false.”
Ernst’s comments follow speculation fueled by her and Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC), who have both expressed doubts about Hegseth’s nomination. Their reservations have prompted rumors that Ernst might be lobbying to replace Hegseth as Trump’s nominee. The two senators previously collaborated to pressure Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) to lift his hold on military promotions over the Pentagon’s policy of paying for travel related to abortion services.
While Ernst denies campaigning against Hegseth, reports suggest otherwise. The Federalist alleged that Ernst has repeatedly called President-elect Donald Trump, urging him to reconsider Hegseth as the nominee. Furthermore, Democratic senators on the Armed Services Committee have publicly praised Ernst, suggesting she would receive bipartisan support if nominated.
Sen. Tim Kaine (D-VA) expressed a “favorable inclination” toward confirming Ernst, while Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) lauded her “independent judgment and integrity.” Even some Republican senators, including Sen. Kevin Cramer (R-ND) and Sen. Mike Rounds (R-SD), initially floated Ernst as a potential replacement before walking back their comments amid growing support for Hegseth.
Hegseth’s nomination remains a contentious issue for the incoming Congress, where Republicans hold a slim 53-47 majority. With Vice President-elect JD Vance (R-OH) prepared to cast a tie-breaking vote, Hegseth can afford to lose only three Republican senators if all Democrats oppose him.
Rumors of Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis as a potential alternative nominee have also surfaced. Ernst responded cautiously, stating, “I do think he would be a good candidate for this position,” while maintaining that Hegseth remains Trump’s choice.
Despite anonymous allegations against Hegseth, Ernst echoed Graham’s call for accusers to step forward. “People need to really come forward if they have information,” she told reporters. “They need to be willing to put their name to it.”
Meanwhile, Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird, a possible primary challenger to Ernst, has publicly backed all of Trump’s nominees, including Hegseth, potentially increasing the pressure on Ernst to clarify her position. With Hegseth’s confirmation fight intensifying, Ernst’s role in the process continues to draw scrutiny.
