• Economy
  • Editor’s Pick
Money Rise Today – Investing and Stock News
  • Investing
  • Stock
Editor's Pick

GOP Sen. Joni Ernst officially backs Pete Hegseth for DOD after initial uncertainty

by January 15, 2025
written by January 15, 2025

: Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, officially endorsed Pete Hegseth for Secretary of Defense on Tuesday night, despite expressing some initial uncertainty following their first meeting. 

‘After four years of weakness in the White House, Americans deserve a strong Secretary of Defense,’ Ernst told Fox News Digital in an exclusive statement.

‘Our next commander in chief selected Pete Hegseth to serve in this role, and after our conversations, hearing from Iowans, and doing my job as a United States Senator, I will support President Trump’s pick for Secretary of Defense. As I serve on the Armed Services Committee, I will work with Pete to create the most lethal fighting force and hold him to his commitments of auditing the Pentagon, ensuring opportunity for women in combat while maintaining high standards, and selecting a senior official to address and prevent sexual assault in the ranks.’

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. 

During the hearing, Ernst pressed Trump’s DOD choice on women in combat, sexual assault in the military and auditing the department. 

Ernst, a survivor of sexual assault herself, said, ‘A priority of mine has been combating sexual assault in the military and making sure that all of our service members are treated with dignity and respect. This has been so important. Senator Gillibrand and I have worked on this, and we were able to get changes made to the uniform code of military justice to make sure that we have improvements, and on how we address the tragic and life altering, issues of rape, sexual assault. It will demand time and attention from the Pentagon under your watch, if you are confirmed.’

‘So, as secretary of Defense, will you appoint a senior level official dedicated to sexual assault prevention and response?’ she asked Hegseth. 

Trump’s DOD choice told the senator that he would agree to do so. 

Ernst had previously expressed uncertainty about her support for Hegseth, agreeing with Fox News anchor Bill Hemmer when he suggested she wasn’t quite ready to say yes to his confirmation. ‘I think you are right,’ she said on ‘America’s Newsroom.’

The senator’s support is a welcome development for Hegseth because, in order to be confirmed, its expected he will need nearly every Republican to back him, with room to lose only two of their votes. This is assuming that no Democratic senators choose to back him, in which case, he would have more flexibility with Republicans. 

Hegseth took numerous pointed questions from Democrats, along with several criticisms. The senators prodded him over allegations regarding alcohol consumption, sexual assault and financial mismanagement. 

He has denied each of the allegations. However, Democratic senators emerged from the hearing unconvinced by Hegseth. 

Related Topics

Politics
Senate
Trump Transition
Secretary of Defense

This post appeared first on FOX NEWS
0 comment
0
FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail

previous post
‘Clear vision’: Conservatives rally around Hegseth after ‘crushing’ fiery confirmation hearing
next post
The Hitchhiker’s Guide to confirming Trump Cabinet nominees — perhaps even during inaugural balls

related articles

Pentagon calls Charlie Kirk posts ‘domestic terrorism’; Dem...

September 16, 2025

Manchin says he wanted GOP to win Senate...

September 16, 2025

Ryan Routh’s SUV looked ‘lived in,’ filled with...

September 16, 2025

Appeals court blocks Trump from firing Fed’s Lisa...

September 16, 2025

White House pushes for $58M security increase in...

September 15, 2025

Maurene Comey sues DOJ for ‘unlawful’ firing, demands...

September 15, 2025

Israel’s military chief backs Witkoff plan over Netanyahu’s...

September 15, 2025

Ilhan Omar’s committee assignments under threat after ‘disparaging...

September 15, 2025

Trump demands NATO allies halt Russian oil purchases...

September 15, 2025

GOP senator predicts ‘tremendous pressure’ to change law...

September 15, 2025
Enter Your Information Below To Receive Free Trading Ideas, Latest News, And Articles.


Your information is secure and your privacy is protected. By opting in you agree to receive emails from us. Remember that you can opt-out any time, we hate spam too!

Latest News

  • Jamie Dimon walks political tightrope, may be considering Harris cabinet position: report

    October 24, 2024
  • Microsoft’s Satya Nadella says job cuts have been ‘weighing heavily’ on him

    July 25, 2025
  • JONATHAN TURLEY: Angry rhetoric is all the rage, but here’s to hope

    November 3, 2024
  • Secret Service agent details ‘textbook ambush,’ bizarre self-representation in Ryan Routh trial

    September 11, 2025
  • ‘Apprentice’ alum joins Women for Trump, speaks out against ‘sad’ Harris-supporting contestants

    November 1, 2024

Popular Posts

  • 1

    Secret Service admits leaning on ‘state and local partners’ after claim it ignored Trump team’s past requests

    July 21, 2024
  • 2

    Five more House Democrats call on Biden to drop out, third US senator

    July 19, 2024
  • 3

    Elon and Vivek should tackle US funding for this boondoogle organization and score a multimillion dollar win

    December 4, 2024
  • 4

    Forex Profit Calculator: Maximize Your Trading Potential

    July 10, 2024
  • 5

    Biden calls to ‘lower the temperature’ then bashes Trump in NAACP speech

    July 17, 2024

Categories

  • Economy (829)
  • Editor's Pick (6,032)
  • Investing (634)
  • Stock (925)

Latest Posts

  • Mike Johnson faces conservative mutiny over Trump-backed plan to avert government shutdown

    September 10, 2024
  • Mother of Israeli hostage begs Trump, Netanyahu to bring son home before ceasefire collapses: ‘No more time’

    February 12, 2025
  • Puerto Rico permits nonbinary gender marker on birth certificates in landmark court decision

    June 3, 2025

Recent Posts

  • GOP senator reveals the ‘dirty’ secret to Trump’s Make America Healthy Again movement

    July 18, 2025
  • Pope Francis-era deal with Chinese Communist Party again under scrutiny as Pope Leo takes the reins

    May 9, 2025
  • ApeCoin and Akita Inu: ApeCoin makes a new weekly high

    August 21, 2024

Editor’s Pick

  • Business is good in ‘Vacationland.’ It would be even better with more housing.

    August 5, 2024
  • Deciphering Donald Trump: How his rhetoric sends different messages

    February 25, 2025
  • Tim Walz wouldn’t call for TikTok ban on government devices even though over 75% of other states did

    September 25, 2024
  • About us
  • Contacts
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms & Conditions

Disclaimer: moneyrisetoday.com, its managers, its employees, and assigns (collectively “The Company”) do not make any guarantee or warranty about what is advertised above. Information provided by this website is for research purposes only and should not be considered as personalized financial advice. The Company is not affiliated with, nor does it receive compensation from, any specific security. The Company is not registered or licensed by any governing body in any jurisdiction to give investing advice or provide investment recommendation. Any investments recommended here should be taken into consideration only after consulting with your investment advisor and after reviewing the prospectus or financial statements of the company.

Copyright © 2025 moneyrisetoday.com | All Rights Reserved

Money Rise Today – Investing and Stock News
  • Economy
  • Editor’s Pick
Money Rise Today – Investing and Stock News
  • Investing
  • Stock