SEN. JONI ERNST CHANGES HER STANCE ON HEGSETH AMID MOUNTING PRESSURE
In sports, especially football, it’s known as a “business decision.” A player could take a hit for the team but decide to go out of bounds to save their body from an inevitable painful collision. While a bit apples to oranges, a poet once asked “Why can’t fruit be compared?” leading us to where retired Army National Guard Lt. Col. Joni Ernst finds herself. This is after she publicly took a stance questioning Pete Hegseth’s nomination as Trump’s next Secretary of Defense. However, Sen. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) has since softened her approach amid backlash and new conversations surrounding the Fox News personality.
Sen. Joni Ernst Appears Disloyal to Trump Supporters
Representing the Hawkeye State, Sen. Joni Ernst is an Iraq War combat Veteran and sexual assault survivor, known for her outspoken opinions for policy changes in the military when sexual misconduct claims come to be.
The controversies surrounding Pete Hegseth joining Trump’s cabinet heads have involved multiple allegations sexual in nature, making it no surprise that Sen. Ernst was not exactly his biggest supporter.
However, the President-elect wants Hegseth for the job, and being disloyal isn’t a quality that flies well under any circumstances, especially with the state of current politics.
Now, GOP supporters are turning on Ernst, showing more pressure on someone who was once rising in popularity to help lead the party into its future.
Public and Political Backlash
It doesn’t take much to find that many people in the public with voices have not been as forgiving of Sen. Joni Ernst and her initial stance on Hegseth.
Even notable voices from the very state she’s representing have not been as kind, such as Family Leader President and CEO Bob Vander Plaats speaking on how Ernst is handling the pressure.
A more cutting example came from Steve Deace, a talk show host in Iowa, who stated, “If the king wants a different senator from Iowa, we’ll have one. If he doesn’t, we won’t. I think someone’s got to be made an example out of, whether it’s Joni or someone else.”
Deace also suggested that he could run against Ernst if Donald Trump wanted someone to challenge her for her role.
People who are close to Ernst, including a retired National Guard lieutenant colonel has stressed the importance of her decision, and how it will depend on her assessment of Hegseth.
Despite external pressure, Ernst’s allies emphasize her resilience as a combat Veteran, and while Trump hasn’t personally intervened, MAGA leaders have criticized her, highlighting the consequences of opposing Trump-backed nominees.
Polls show only 20% of Americans support Hegseth, with Republicans divided. Trump allies worry rejecting him could weaken support for other controversial picks like RFK Jr. and Tulsi Gabbard.
Conservative figures such as Donald Trump Jr. and Charlie Kirk warned Ernst of political risks, while advocacy groups launched costly ad campaigns.
Locally, pressure continues to mount through Iowa Republican leaders, including Attorney General Brenna Bird, who have applied pressure for Ernst to support Hegseth during this time.
Joni Ernst Eases Stance on Hegseth
When asked about her thoughts on the Hegseth nomination, Joni Ernst, a combat Veteran and sexual assault survuvor initially expressed that Hegseth would, "have his work cut out for him" to get confimred. She also expressed that she was not yet a "yes."
After her initial statement, it appears that she had chnaged her mind as she explained that she had an "encouraging" conversarion with the nominee.
She later came out to say, "As I support Pete through this process, I look forward to a fair hearing based on truth, not anonymous sources."
Sen. Joni Ernst, Careers, and the Vicious Political Cycle
After meeting with Hegseth for “encouraging” talks, Ernst seems to view the pick in a more positive light, noting his commitments to auditing the Pentagon and appointing a senior official focused on preventing sexual assault in the military.
However, the political aspects of the change in stance are hard to ignore, as even fellow senators are noting that the backlash has been excessive.
Military service and qualifications for representing constituents have long been attractive qualities in a political candidate. However, Sen. Joni Ernst is a prime example of how current politics may demand blind loyalty even in the face of personal adversity.
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