U.S. Senate surprise announcement causes Trump’s head to spin

Inauguration day is less than a week away. But D.C. is in a frenzy.

As the U.S. Senate dropped a surprise announcement that caused Trump’s head to spin.

This second Trump administration is proving to be very different from his first tenure at the helm of the Executive branch. President Trump is stretching his legs and feeling a lot more comfortable to do what he wants this time around, as opposed to being “advised” by the Washington, D.C. establishment class that just wants to control the whole nation.

In his first go round, Donald Trump picked the likes of Rex Tillerson and Mike Pompeo for the role of Secretary of State, Jim Mattis for Secretary of Defense, Jeff Sessions for Attorney General, and Rick Perry for Secretary of Energy. These aren’t exactly picks that Donald Trump’s base were generally happy about, but Trump himself will tell you he had a lot to learn for his second term.

Now, he’s learned from his mistakes. He’s not just taking orders from the uni-party, political class about who he should be appointing to critical roles in his cabinet. That much was made clear when he announced that he would be nominating former Veteran Pete Hegseth for the role of Secretary of Defense in the new White House cabinet. This nomination alone set all of Washington, D.C. ablaze.

There were questions surrounding whether he would be able to make it through even a GOP-controlled U.S. Senate, as plenty of Republican Senators were signaling discomfort around supporting an outsider like Pete Hegseth for Secretary of Defense. However, the latest news for Hegseth and Trump is going to be music to their ears. It seems as though Hegseth will have more than enough votes to be confirmed to the Department of Defense position, save any last-minute chaos that is always possible when it comes to the modern-day dysfunctional Congress.

Sen. Joni Ernst Backs Pete Hegseth for Secretary of Defense

Republican Senator Joni Ernst from Iowa officially confirmed her support for former Fox News host Pete Hegseth as Secretary of Defense late Tuesday, following his Senate confirmation hearing. Despite initial skepticism, Ernst’s endorsement came after listening to the concerns of Iowans and engaging in multiple conversations with Hegseth about key defense issues.

Ernst had previously expressed reservations about Hegseth’s nomination, but after hearing from constituents and learning more about his stance on important issues, she became convinced of his qualifications for the role. In an exclusive interview with local radio host Simon Conway, she made the announcement:

“I am breaking news, Simon. I figured you would ask this. So, yes, I will be supporting President Trump’s pick for Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth,” Ernst said. She elaborated on how the people of Iowa had influenced her decision, mentioning that local support played a crucial role in her shift in opinion. She also highlighted a letter of support from Mark Lucas, an Iowan, which she submitted into the record during the hearing.

🚨 Senator Joni Ernst announces she will vote YES on @PeteHegseth's confirmation: "Yes, I will be supporting President Trump's pick for Secretary of Defense, Pete Hegseth." pic.twitter.com/2BbRNOFpVQ

— Trump War Room (@TrumpWarRoom) January 14, 2025

Ernst also emphasized her personal discussions with Hegseth, particularly on sensitive topics such as the treatment of women in the armed forces. “So again, a lot of Iowans reached out, expressing support for Pete Hegseth. I’ve had multiple conversations with Pete, and it was important that I do that and make sure that he understood where I am when it comes to women in the military, when it comes to making sure that we continue supporting those women that have been s*xually assaulted, and he committed to that publicly,” Ernst shared.

Her concerns about women’s safety in the military were addressed during these conversations, and Hegseth assured her that he was committed to the cause, both in private discussions and publicly. She acknowledged his commitment to addressing s*xual assault within the ranks and ensuring proper treatment for women in the armed services.

Ernst also praised Hegseth for his approach to reforming the Pentagon and promoting transparency. In a statement following the meeting, she noted, “I appreciate Pete Hegseth’s responsiveness and respect for the process. Following our encouraging conversations, Pete committed to completing a full audit of the Pentagon and selecting a senior official who will uphold the roles and values of our servicemen and women — based on quality and standards, not quotas — and who will prioritize and strengthen my work to prevent s*xual assault within the ranks.”

Hegseth’s confirmation as Secretary of Defense is crucial for President-elect Donald Trump’s second term. He will need a majority vote in the Senate to secure the position, and Ernst’s backing is a significant endorsement. However, Hegseth’s nomination has not been without controversy. Allegations of s*xual misconduct and excessive alcohol consumption have surfaced, though Hegseth has denied these claims. In 2017, a woman accused him of s*xual assault in Monterey, California, but the Monterey County district attorney confirmed that no charges were filed in connection with the incident.

Despite these allegations, Hegseth’s military service remains a key component of his candidacy. He served as an infantry officer in the Army National Guard, with deployments to Iraq, Afghanistan, and Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. Hegseth’s extensive military experience, combined with his leadership qualities, has earned him support from many veterans and military colleagues. A letter from several of these veterans endorsing his nomination further assists his reputation within the armed forces.

🚨 Pete Hegseth just told Senator Joni Ernst he is committed to keeping all standards high and conducting a gender-neutral review of the military

"Yes, women will have access to ground combat roles given the standards remain high." pic.twitter.com/pyrI9wennF

— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) January 14, 2025

The news of Joni Ernst’s support for Hegseth makes his confirmation all but a sure thing, which Donald Trump will be happy to hear considering he admits he doesn’t much like the constant fighting in Congress these days over basic proceedings of confirming Executive post picks. He’s already had to pull one nomination within his cabinet because the D.C. circuit lost its mind over Matt Gaetz as a potential Attorney General. Trump replaced Gaetz with another well-respected ally and attorney, Pam Bondi.

Stay tuned to the DC Daily Journal.