Hegseth reveals what happened to Ernst during the crucial confirmation meeting

President-elect Donald Trump’s pick for defense secretary, Pete Hegseth, celebrated having a “great meeting” with Sen. Joni Ernst after the Iowa Republican slowly pushed forward an endorsement of the Cabinet nominee.

“It was a great meeting. People don’t really know that. I have known Sen. Ernst for over 10 years. I knew her when she was running for senator to be the first female combat veteran,” Hegseth told Fox News’ Sean Hannity in an exclusive interview Monday night. “And we supported them and have continued to do so.”

“You attend these meetings and listen to the senators – it’s an amazing consultation and consent process – and you hear how thoughtful, serious and substantive they are on these key issues affecting our Department of Defense,” he continued. “And Joni Ernst is at the center of it. So it’s really, really important to be able to keep having phone calls and meetings to discuss the issues. The fact that she is willing to support me in this process means a lot to me.”

AFTER THE SECOND MEETING WITH HEGSETH, ERNST indicates whether she will support the confirmation or not

Pete Hegseth, President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee for defense secretary, gives a thumbs up as he and his wife Jennifer Hegseth (left) arrive for a meeting with Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee , leaves, at the Capitol in Washington, Monday, December 9, 2024. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite) (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

Hegseth has spent his days on Capitol Hill meeting with Republican senators to drum up support as he battles allegations of sexual misconduct, excessive drinking and mismanagement of a nonprofit veterans organization. Hegseth has denied the allegations and vowed that he would not drink “a drop of alcohol” if Trump’s Cabinet confirmed it.

PETE HEGSETH SAYS HE WILL ‘STAND RIGHT HERE IN THIS FIGHT’ AFTER MEETING WITH SENATORS.

At Hegseth’s meeting on Monday, he met again with Ernst, who sits on the Senate Armed Services Committee, after meeting with her last week.

Last week, Ernst refused to commit to voting for Hegseth, but indicated Monday that she is beginning to support the Trump nominee.

Ernst wrote in a statement Monday: “As I support Pete in this process, I look forward to a fair hearing based on the truth and not anonymous sources.”

She added in her statement: “Following our encouraging conversations, Pete is committed to conducting a full review of the Pentagon and selecting a senior official who will uphold the roles and value of our servicemen and women – based on quality and standards, not.” on quotas – and.” Who will prioritize and strengthen my work to prevent sexual assault in the ranks?

Defense Secretary nominee Pete Hegseth joins Fox News Sean Hannity. (Fox News)

​​Trump nominated Hegseth, a former National Guard officer, as Defense Secretary last monthHe said: “With Pete at the helm, America’s enemies are on guard – our military will be great again and America will never back down.” Hegseth was a host on “Fox & Friends Weekend” before Trump’s nomination.

Fox News Digital reported on Sunday, after Ernst initially hesitated to support Hegseth, that Trump’s allies were expected to step up their criticism of her because of her hesitation in supporting Trump’s pick for defense secretary.

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“It’s actually this simple: If you oppose President Trump’s nominees, you are opposing the Trump agenda, and there will be a political price to pay. We are aware that certain establishment senators are trying to pressure the president’s nominees to put him in the spotlight. “We will weaken him and harm him politically, and we simply will not let that happen,” said a top Trump ally told Fox News Digital.

Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA) speaks to reporters following the Republicans’ weekly political luncheon at the U.S. Capitol on February 14, 2023 in Washington, DC. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

Hegseth continued in his interview with Hannity that he will also meet with Sens. Lisa Murkowski and Susan Collins, whom Hannity identified as more liberal Republican senators compared to their colleagues.

“We will be meeting with Sen. Collins on Wednesday and Sen. Murkowski on Tuesday. And let me tell you, Sean, the founders got this right. This is not a trivial process. This is a real thing: advice and consent of one.” And I’m so grateful that President Trump has trusted me to lead the Department of Defense, but this advice and consent process, meeting with all the members of the Senate Armed Services Committee and They all “I have great questions and my answers are for them,” Hegseth said.

The SecDef candidate also dismissed claims of impropriety during the interview, arguing: “The left is trying to make this a trial – a show trial – in the media and we will not allow that.”

“I will walk in the door of every single one of these senators and just be an open book ready to answer their questions because they deserve answers. … I’ve heard great things about all of these senators and the questions.” “They want to ask, and we look forward to winning those votes. That’s what it’s all about, ultimately winning the votes in the committee and the full U.S. Senate,” he said.

Pete Hegseth, President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee for Secretary of Defense, is accompanied by his wife Jennifer Hegseth as they walk through the basement of the Capitol on Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein) (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)

Dozens of prominent veterans sign letter in support of HEGSETH’s “outstanding” nomination amid controversy

Last week, reports emerged claiming that Trump had lost confidence in his candidate as Democrats criticized the election and some Republicans, such as Sen. Lindsey Graham, noted that the allegations against Hegseth were “disturbing.” Trump pushed back on the claims when he reiterated his support for Hegseth in a Truth Social post on Friday, while Vice President-elect JD Vance also said the Trump team “will not give up on this nomination.”

Republican presidential candidate former U.S. President Donald Trump takes the stage during a campaign rally at the Desert Diamond Arena on August 23, 2024 in Glendale, Arizona. The rally, held in partnership with Turning Point PAC and Turning Point Action, comes two weeks after Democratic presidential candidate US Vice President Harris’s rally at the same location. (Rebecca Noble/Getty Images)

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​​“Pete Hegseth is doing very well. His support is strong and deep,” Trump wrote on Truth Social on Friday. “He will be a fantastic, energetic defense minister who will lead with charisma and skill. Pete is a WINNER and there’s nothing you can do about that!!!”

Fox News Digital’s Cameron Cawthorne and Paul Steinhauser contributed to this report.