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By Khaleda Rahman
National Correspondent
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Senator Joni Ernst of Iowa is facing criticism from supporters of President-elect Donald Trump for not backing Pete Hegseth, Trump's pick for defense secretary.
Hegseth, a former Fox News host and former Army National Guard major, has been meeting with Republican senators seeking to reassure them that he is fit to lead the Pentagon following an allegation of sexual assault and reports alleging sexual misconduct, excessive drinking and financial mismanagement.
Hegseth denied all allegations of wrongdoing in an interview with Megyn Kelly on Wednesday and has insisted he will not withdraw from consideration for the job. His attorney Timothy Parlatore told Newsweek that Hegseth speaks to Trump regularly and the president-elect "has expressed his full support of Pete."
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Hegseth's views on women troops have also come under scrutiny—he said in early November that women should "straight up" not serve in combat roles.
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Ernst, a former Army National Guard member and a retired lieutenant colonel who has made combating sexual harassment in the military a focus of her time on Capitol Hill, indicated on Thursday that she isn't ready to support Hegseth's nomination yet.
Her comments led to Trump supporters lashing out at Ernst on social media, with some suggesting that she would face a primary challenge if she does not support Hegseth.
She has responded to critics accusing her of trying to sink Hegseth's nomination for her own gain, insisting she is not seeking to be selected to lead the Pentagon herself.
A spokesperson for Ernst told Newsweek: "As Senator Ernst has said, she is not seeking to be secretary of defense, there is no 'campaign' against Pete, and is continuing the vetting process."
Charlie Kirk, the founder of Turning Point USA, a nonprofit that promotes conservative values and free-market principles among young people, accused Ernst of "leading the charge" against him.
He shared comments Ernst made during an interview in August where she spoke in support of allowing transgender people to serve in the military on X, writing: "Maybe this is why she's leading the charge against Hegseth?
"People in Iowa have a well-funded primary challenger ready against her. Her political career is in serious jeopardy."
Ernst has been floated as a possible replacement pick for Hegseth—something she has denied she is seeking—and some Democrats have indicated they would support her nomination.
The Iowa Republican, a member of the Armed Services committee and a survivor of sexual assault herself, praised Hegseth's service and wrote on social media that she had a "frank and thorough" conversation with him on Wednesday.
But she demurred when asked if she would back him during an appearance on Fox News on Thursday, saying that a "very thorough vetting" is needed.
Asked if she was not yet ready to vote yes on Hegseth, Ernst said: "I think you are right. 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.
"And that's why I was happy to sit down with Pete and have that conversation with him yesterday. So again, all I will say at this time is that we did have a very thorough discussion."
Trump has stayed quiet about Hegseth as he fights to save his nomination, although the president-elect has reportedly been considering replacement picks, including Florida Governor Ron DeSantis.
On social media, Trump's supporters railed against Ernst for not supporting Hegseth.
Gunther Eagleman, a political commentator and MAGA supporter with more than a million followers, replied that Ernst "needs to be in the unemployment line."
Sean Davis, the CEO and co-founder of The Federalist, a conservative web magazine, wrote on X that Ernst "supported and funded all the nonsense on the left," referring to images that included one of Rachel Levine, the assistant secretary of health who is transgender.
"She wants to destroy the person on the right," Davis wrote, referring to Hegseth. "Why is that?"
Some Republicans have floated Ernst could be a possible replacement for Hegseth, with some Democrats indicating that they would support her.
"I generally don't make those determinations before I've even talked with somebody, but I'd start off with a very, very favorable inclination" to confirm Ernst, Senator Tim Kaine from Virginia, a Democrat who is also on the Armed Services Committee, told the Washington Examiner.
Update 12/06/24, 11:30 a.m. ET: This article has been updated to add comment from a spokesperson for Senator Joni Ernst.
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