Iowa Republicans rage over Sen. Joni Ernst

Despite her popularity over the years, Sen. Joni Ernst is taking heat over holding up the confirmation of Pete Hegseth, President-elect Donald Trump’s pick for top Pentagon position.

Things aren’t going well for US Sen. Joni Ernst. She’s cultivated clout through her experience both in combat and as a military policymaker. But Republicans are going after Ernst for vetting Trump’s pick for US Secretary of Defense. 

Trump reaffirmed his support of Hegseth on Truth Social Friday, saying Hegseth is “a WINNER, and there is nothing that can be done to change that!!!”

Hegseth is a Fox News host and veteran. Since Trump announced his pick, several troubling details have come to light: a sexual assault investigation that culminated in a monetary settlement. A history of intoxication on the job and financial mismanagement. And an email published by The New York Times written by Hegseth’s mother accusing him of mistreating women for years. 

Hegseth has denied all allegations of wrongdoing and vowed to stay in competition for the #2 military command position so long as Trump is at his back. And from Trump down and the grassroots up, snubbing Hegseth is generating outrage at Ernst. 

Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird wrote in Breitbart Friday saying Ernst and her fellow Senators needed to back Trump’s picks or risk putting themselves at odds with the electorate that put him in power.

“In recent days, it’s become clear that D.C. politicians think they can ignore the voices of their constituents and entertain smears from the same outlets that have pushed out lies for years,” Bird wrote. “When voters select a president, they are selecting that president’s vision for a cabinet that will enact his agenda. On November 5, America voted for change, and for Washington to work for America – not the other way around.”

Family Leader President and CEO Bob Vander Plaats echoed Bird in a post on X saying, “Undermining his nomination is to be in denial of America’s clear voice in the November 5 election.”

Already, MAGA activists like Rogan O’Handley and Turning Point USA Founder Charlie Kirk asked for someone to primary Ernst, even calling Iowa-native Kari Lake to return to Iowa to primary Ernst in 2026. The Iowa Standard’s Jacob Hall wrote on X. “@SenJoniErnst needed a primary BEFORE this Hegseth drama. And IF she gets Hegseth right, she still needs a primary.”

“No, no,” Ernst told Real Clear Politics of the accusation that she’s trying to sink Hegseth, “and believe me, I have been feeling this.”