Donald Trump’s transition team entered a critical week of nomination meetings on Capitol Hill with a new head, emboldened by a swarm of popular support and a pressure campaign that has revived Pete Hegseth’s hopes for defense secretary and It has given them confidence over other controversial candidates. also.
In recent days, Trump’s allies have taken an approach that is not new to the president-elect and his supporters: making life extremely uncomfortable for anyone who dares to oppose him. The swarm of MAGA attacks Sen. Joni Ernst has experienced is a warning of what awaits others who express skepticism about his personnel choices.
Days after signaling that he continued to have serious concerns about Hegseth’s confirmation, Ernst on Monday struck a different note. She described their conversation Monday afternoon as “encouraging,” said she would “support” Hegseth through the process, touted some of the commitments he made to her about what he would do in the role and suggested she would only take the allegations seriously. against him. if they come from named accusers.
The change in tone came after aggressive pressure on Hegseth from Trump’s top allies and supporters, as well as a defiant performance by the defense secretary nominee that left Trump’s team optimistic about his confirmation. But it’s not just about Hegseth. Trump’s allies believe his pick to head the FBI, Kash Patel, and his nominee for director of national intelligence, Tulsi Gabbard, are also in a stronger position.
Hegseth “became a cause,” said a Trump ally who was granted anonymity to speak freely. “Not even for the official Trump operation, but for the movement that is going crazy for him.”
The fortunes of Hegseth and his fellow nominees could always change, people close to the president-elect warn, and Trump’s team is carefully monitoring support on Capitol Hill. With a narrow Republican majority in the Senate, 53-47, Trump can only afford to lose three Republican votes. But the palpable shift demonstrated how popular pressure, combined with the influence of Vice President-elect JD Vance, helped bolster Hegseth just days after Trump was drawing up contingency plans to turn to Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis.
People in Trump’s orbit believed that if Hegseth’s nomination was “sacrificed” in favor of Ernst, it would become a “frenzy” with the president-elect’s other controversial picks, such as Gabbard, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Patel. .
And Vance over the past week was “very instrumental” in solidifying support among his Senate Republican colleagues behind Hegseth and keeping Trump’s team in the fight, said a person with knowledge of the transition process.
“(Vance) saw the game that was being played where these senators believed themselves to be more powerful than they are,” the person said. “There is a widely understood belief that (Matt) Gaetz retired on his own; he knew there would be certain senators who just weren’t going to give in to him.”
With Hegseth, the person continued, Trump allies knew they had to “draw a red line here” to send a message to senators.
Last week, Ernst and Senator Lindsey Graham openly questioned Hegseth’s nomination. It looked like he was about to follow in the footsteps of former Attorney General candidate Matt Gaetz.
But after a flurry of criticism from MAGA activists late last week and over the weekend, Ernst on Monday expressed optimism about Hegseth, while signaling a willingness to confirm other Trump nominees also potentially considered. problematic, posting her support for Patel and another photo of her smiling. with Gabbardo.
“I appreciate Pete Hegseth’s responsiveness and respect for the process,” Ernst said in a statement issued by his office after his “encouraging” meeting with Hegseth on Monday. She said he “committed to completing a full audit of the Pentagon and selecting a top official who will defend the roles and value of our servicemen and women (based on quality and standards, not quotas) and who will prioritize and will strengthen my work to prevent sexual assault within the ranks.”
“As I support Pete in this process,” Ernst added, “I look forward to a fair hearing based on the truth, not anonymous sources.”
For his part, Hegseth described the meeting with Ernst to journalists as “very good.”
“The more we talk, the more we are reminded, as combat veterans, how dedicated we are to defense,” Hegseth said. “I just appreciate their commitment to the process and look forward to working together.”
Graham said he had “a very positive, thorough and candid meeting” with Hegseth and, like Ernst, said the allegations should be “supported by congressional testimony, not anonymous sources.”
Even before her meeting with Hegseth, Trump insiders believed on Monday that Ernst was viewing the situation very differently than she had the previous week.
“Joni, I’m told,” said a Trump ally with inside knowledge of the transition process, “got the message loud and clear.”
The person said Ernst was “looking for a way out” of his public skepticism toward Hegseth after receiving an avalanche of criticism from MAGA activists. That campaign took off last week after prominent Trump allies, including his son Donald Trump Jr. and Charlie Kirk, posted criticism of Ernst on social media.
“Fixing bayonets — that’s what we’re doing here to make sure we have the support of President Trump and his nominees,” Steve Bannon said Friday on his show “War Room.”
Hegseth was spared by Trump, according to several people familiar with the matter, who said the president-elect was pleased with the defiance he displayed last week in interviews and meetings at the Capitol. He is expected to do an interview with Trump friend and Fox News host Sean Hannity on Monday night.
“He stood his ground and showed up in Congress every day and had thoughtful conversations and meetings, and I think his media blitz was very effective in showing that he’s not going to back down,” a Trump transition official said.
People in Trump’s orbit emphasized that Hegseth’s fate is different from Gaetz’s, as there are no senators who have said they will not support his nomination.
Trump allies, including Kirk, have already vowed to file primary challenges against Republican senators from red states who do not support their nominees, a plan Trump’s team is hinting it supports.
An op-ed written by Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird calling on senators to support Trump’s nominees was criticized by the Republican National Committee’s press team. Some Republicans saw it as a major veiled threat against Ernst from a top Trump ally in Iowa.
“They have a window of opportunity right now to show the base that they’re willing to play,” said Kirk spokesman Andrew Kolvet. “Let’s see where they are.”
The optimism spread to some of Trump’s most loyal supporters in the Senate. Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), who was considered for the post of defense secretary, stated on X: “I hope our Republican Senate confirms all of President Trump’s nominees.
“Of the 72 candidates for Cabinet secretary since the Clinton transition,” he added, “only two candidates have received NO votes from the president-elect’s party. “No one should be surprised that the Republican Senate confirms President Trump’s nominees.”