During Pete Hegseth’s confirmation hearings for Secretary of Defense on Capitol Hill on Tuesday, Democrats did everything they could to dehumanize and denigrate him, including Sens. Tim Kaine (VA), the bumbling Mazie Hirono (HI), and Tammy Duckworth (IL). ), “Chief” Elizabeth Warren (MA), Kirsten Gillibrand (NY), and others deliver shrill, venomous comments disguised as questions.
Poor Pete:
This is literally worse than vigorous combat… pic.twitter.com/dgqCI0Wg0I
— David Santa Carla 🦇 (@TheOnlyDSC) January 14, 2025
RedState’s Streiff said Hegseth handled everything like a winner.
Pete Hegseth brings his best and gets the job done
Someone else was also impressed by Hegseth’s performance, and her name is Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA), and on Tuesday she endorsed the former Army National Guard officer (who served in Afghanistan and Iraq), veterans advocate and Fox News pundit. This is an significant endorsement because Hegseth can afford few or no defections from the Republican Party to win the job.
🚨 Senator Joni Ernst announces she will vote YES @PeteHegseth‘s Affirmation: “Yes, I will support President Trump’s selection of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.” pic.twitter.com/2BbRNOFpVQ
— Trump War Room (@TrumpWarRoom) January 14, 2025
Kabuki theater:
Pete Hegseth shuts down Elizabeth Warren with just five words in contentious confirmation hearing
“Unworthy”: Mazie Hirono turns Hegseth defense hearings into a “clown show”
As RedState’s Susie Moore reported in December, Ernst initially expressed reservations about Hegseth’s nomination, but after meeting with him, he was comfortable with the idea. However, their official support makes confirmation of his path all the more likely.
She explained her position following the hearing:
“After four years of weakness in the White House, Americans deserve a strong secretary of defense,” Ernst said in an exclusive statement to Fox News Digital.
“Our next commander in chief has selected Pete Hegseth for this role, and based on our conversations, hearings from Iowans and my work as a U.S. Senator, I will support President Trump’s selection for Secretary of Defense. While in office I will work with Pete to create the most lethal fighting force and hold him to his commitments to audit the Pentagon, ensure opportunities for women in combat while maintaining high standards and selecting a senior official who is sexual Attacks are addressed and prevented. The ranks.”
Considering that the blatantly partisan Democrats will try to thwart any Trump nomination, that bodes well for Hegseth’s chances.
Ernst’s endorsement is a welcome development for Hegseth because to be confirmed, he is expected to need the support of nearly all Republicans and could lose just two of their votes. This assumes no Democratic senator chooses to support him. In this case he would have more flexibility with the Republicans.
Seriousness was the biggest hurdle to Pete’s confirmation. This hurdle has now been overcome. https://t.co/3xDkgFuMKi
— Joe Concha (@JoeConchaTV) January 15, 2025
One possible Democratic turncoat: Sen. John Fetterman (PA), who has expressed a willingness to keep an open mind and at least consider the possibility. If you had told me two years ago that Fetterman would be a infrequent voice of reason among Senate Democrats, I would have told you to contact Bellevue, but at least some of what he said was downright rational . We’ll see where he ends up on this issue.
The circus begins again Wednesday morning as several confirmation hearings will begin. Fill up your popcorn popper tonight and have it ready to fire up, because if today’s spectacle was any indication, we’re in for a lot more low-budget theater tomorrow.
