Hegseth reveals what occurred in essential affirmation assembly with Ernst

President-elect Donald Trump's choice Protection Secretary Pete Hegseth celebrated having a “nice assembly” with Sen. Joni Ernst after the Iowa Republican slowly endorsed the Cupboard nominee.

“It was a terrific assembly. Folks don't actually know that. I've recognized Senator Ernst for over 10 years. I knew her when she was a state senator working to grow to be the primary feminine fight veteran “Hegseth informed Fox Information. ” Sean Hannity in an unique interview Monday night. “And we supported her in that effort, and we’ve continued to take action.”

“You sit in these conferences and also you hearken to the senators – it’s an unimaginable recommendation and consent course of – and also you hear how considerate and severe and substantive they’re on these key points that concern our Division of Protection,” he continued. “And Joni Ernst is on the forefront of that. So having the ability to have telephone calls and conferences again and again to debate points is de facto, actually vital. The truth that she's keen to help me by way of this course of means quite a bit.”

AFTER SECOND MEETING WITH HEGSETH, ERNST STATES WHETHER SHE WILL SUPPORT CONFIRMATION OR NOT

Pete Hegseth, President-elect Donald Trump's nominee for secretary of Protection, offers a thumbs-up as he walks together with his spouse Jennifer Hegseth, left, to satisfy with committee member Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa of Armed Companies, on the Capitol in Washington, Monday, December 9, 2024. (AP Picture/J. Scott Applewhite) (AP Picture/J. Scott Applewhite)

Hegseth spent his days on Capitol Hill assembly with Republican senators to rally help as he battles allegations of sexual misconduct, extreme consuming and mismanagement of a nonprofit group. veterans. Hegseth denied the allegations and vowed he wouldn’t drink “a drop of alcohol” if confirmed to Trump's cupboard.

PETE HEGSETH SAYS HE WILL STAND HERE IN THIS FIGHT AFTER MEETING WITH SENATORS

Amongst Hegseth's conferences Monday, he met once more with Ernst, who serves on the Senate Armed Companies Committee, after assembly along with her final week.

Final week, Ernst refused to decide to voting for Hegseth, however hinted Monday that she was beginning to vote for Hegseth. support candidate Trump.

Ernst wrote in a press release Monday, saying that “whereas supporting Pete all through this course of, I sit up for a good listening to primarily based on the reality and never nameless sources.”

She added in her assertion that “following our encouraging conversations, Pete dedicated to conducting a complete audit of the Pentagon and deciding on a senior official who will champion the roles and worth of our navy – primarily based on the standard and requirements, not quotas – and that may prioritize and strengthen my work to forestall sexual assault within the ranks. »

Secretary of Protection nominee Pete Hegseth joins Fox Information' Sean Hannity. (Fox Information)

​​Trump nominated Hegseth, a former Nationwide Guard officer, as secretary of defense last monthstating “with Pete on the helm, America's enemies know – our navy might be nice once more and America won’t ever again down.” Hegseth was the host of “Fox & Mates Weekend” earlier than Trump’s nomination.

Fox Information Digital reported Sunday, following Ernst's preliminary hesitation to help Hegseth, that Trump's allies had been anticipated to step up criticism of her as she hesitates to supply help for his protection secretary decide. Trump.

CONSERVATIVE GROUP COMPILE LIST OF “WAKED” SENIOR OFFICERS THEY WANT PETE HEGSETH TO READ THE LIST

“It's so simple as this: Should you oppose President Trump's nominees, you oppose Trump's agenda and there might be a political value to pay for that. We’re nicely conscious that some senators within the institution try to undermine the president's nominees to make him look weak and damage him politically, and we're merely not going to permit that to occur,” a prime Trump ally informed Fox Information Digital.

Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA) speaks with reporters following the weekly Senate Republican Coverage Luncheon on the U.S. Capitol February 14, 2023 in Washington, DC. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Photos)

Hegseth went on in his interview with Hannity to say he would additionally meet with Senators Lisa Murkowski and Susan Collins, whom Hannity recognized as two Republican senators who had been extra liberal than their colleagues.

“We'll meet with Senator Collins on Wednesday and Senator Murkowski on Tuesday. And let me let you know, Sean, the founders obtained it proper. This isn’t a trivial course of. It is a actual factor: the recommendation and the consent of a nominee that the president has chosen And I'm very grateful that President Trump has confidence in me to guide the Division of Protection, to decide on me to do it, however this recommendation and consent course of, assembly. all members of the Senate Armed Companies Committee, and so they all have large questions, and my solutions are for them,” Hegseth stated.

The SecDef candidate also rejected on allegations of irregularities through the interview, arguing that “the left is attempting to show this right into a trial within the media – a present trial – and we’re not going to let that occur.”

“I'm going to stroll by way of the door of every of those senators with the willingness, like an open e-book, to reply their questions, as a result of they deserve solutions. … I've heard excellent issues about all of those senators and the questions. “They need to ask, and we're desperate to win these votes. That's what it's in the end about, profitable the votes in committee and throughout the USA Senate.” he declared.

Pete Hegseth, President-elect Donald Trump's nominee for secretary of Protection, is joined by his spouse, Jennifer Hegseth, as they stroll by way of the basement of the Capitol, Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2024, in Washington. (AP Picture/Mark Schiefelbein) (AP Picture/Mark Schiefelbein)

DOZENS OF FORMER COMMUNITY SIGNS LETTER SUPPORTING “OUTSTANDING” APPOINTMENT OF HEGSETH AMID CONTROVERSIES

Reviews surfaced final week claiming that Trump had misplaced confidence in his nominee as Democrats criticized the selection and a few Republicans, like Sen. Lindsey Graham, remarked that the allegations in opposition to Hegseth had been “troubling.” Trump refuted these claims by doubling down on his help for Hegseth in a Fact Social article on Friday, whereas Vice President-elect JD Vance additionally stated Staff Trump “wouldn’t hand over on this nomination.”

Republican presidential candidate, former U.S. President Donald Trump, takes the stage throughout a marketing campaign rally at Desert Diamond Area August 23, 2024 in Glendale, Arizona. The rally, held in partnership with Turning Level PAC and Turning Level Motion, comes two weeks after Democratic presidential candidate Vice President Harris held a rally on the similar location. (Rebecca Noble/Getty Photos)

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“Pete Hegseth is doing nice. His help is robust and deep,” Trump wrote Friday on Fact Social. “He might be a incredible and energetic Secretary of Protection, who will lead with charisma and competence. Pete is a WINNER, and there may be nothing that may be accomplished to vary that!!!”

Cameron Cawthorne and Paul Steinhauser of Fox Information Digital contributed to this report.