The pressure campaign against U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst is mounting — including from some Iowa Republicans — as she has so far refused to commit to supporting Pete Hegseth, President-elect Donald Trump's nominee to lead the Department of Defense.
Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird penned a column in the conservative website Breitbart urging the Senate to confirm Trump's Cabinet nominees. Although it doesn't call out Ernst by name, she castigates the "D.C. politicians" who "think they can ignore the voices of their constituents and entertain smears from the same outlets that have pushed out lies for years."
"What we’re witnessing in Washington right now is a Deep State attempt to undermine the will of the people," Bird, a Trump endorser, wrote. "We must not let Washington kill nominations before the Constitutional confirmation process even begins."
Bird's spokesperson, Alyssa Brouillet, said in a statement the article was meant generally to encourage "the entire U.S. Senate" to confirm Trump's appointees. She accused the Des Moines Register of "always trying to pit Republicans against each other."
POLITICS
Des Moines Register
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(This story was edited to add new information.)
The pressure campaign against U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst is mounting — including from some Iowa Republicans — as she has so far refused to commit to supporting Pete Hegseth, President-elect Donald Trump's nominee to lead the Department of Defense.
Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird penned a column in the conservative website Breitbart urging the Senate to confirm Trump's Cabinet nominees. Although it doesn't call out Ernst by name, she castigates the "D.C. politicians" who "think they can ignore the voices of their constituents and entertain smears from the same outlets that have pushed out lies for years."
"What we’re witnessing in Washington right now is a Deep State attempt to undermine the will of the people," Bird, a Trump endorser, wrote. "We must not let Washington kill nominations before the Constitutional confirmation process even begins."
Bird's spokesperson, Alyssa Brouillet, said in a statement the article was meant generally to encourage "the entire U.S. Senate" to confirm Trump's appointees. She accused the Des Moines Register of "always trying to pit Republicans against each other."
"It is no secret that Attorney General Bird has been supportive of President Trump and his cabinet picks from the very beginning," she said. "Just this week, Attorney General Bird sent a letter to U.S. Senate leadership, urging them to confirm Pam Bondi as U.S. Attorney General. President Trump needs his team in the field to ensure Washington works for America — not the other way around."
Steve Deace, an Iowa conservative commentator and media personality, posted on the social media website X that he would be willing to run against Ernst in a Republican primary if she seeks reelection in 2026.
"Defeating an incumbent US Senator takes high name ID, connections, and funding potential," he wrote. "I'm one of the few people in Iowa with all three. I don't want to be a Senator, but I am willing to primary her for the good of the cause if I'm assured I have Trump's support going in. Or I am willing to throw my support and network behind someone else President Trump prefers to primary Joni Ernst instead."
Iowa Republican U.S. Rep. Ashley Hinson defended Ernst in a call with Iowa reporters Friday morning, calling her a "fierce conservative fighter."
"She has dedicated her life to serving our Iowans and her country, and it is her constitutional duty to vet all of these nominees thoroughly, and I think that's what she is doing," Hinson said. "That's what she has pledged to do."
In a statement Friday evening, Hinson said Hegseth is a strong pick to lead the Department of Defense.
"I was able to hear him speak earlier this week and think he will be a disruptor, end woke DEI infecting our military, and cut through the endless bureaucracy at the Pentagon," she said. "I’m counting down the days until Trump is in the White House and we can get to work to Make America Great Again.”
In the hours since Ernst's Fox News interview, there has been intense blowback online from the right.
In Iowa, the right-wing Iowa Standard blog has been vocal about calling for a primary challenge to Ernst, highlighting past stances she's taken that were in opposition to Trump.
And Donald Trump Jr. posted on X a list of Republican senators, including Ernst, who voted for Democratic President Joe Biden's defense secretary pick, Lloyd Austin, saying it's "a disgrace" for any of those senators to now withhold support from Hegseth.
Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird penned a column in the conservative website Breitbart urging the Senate to confirm Trump's Cabinet nominees. Although it doesn't call out Ernst by name, she castigates the "D.C. politicians" who "think they can ignore the voices of their constituents and entertain smears from the same outlets that have pushed out lies for years."
"What we’re witnessing in Washington right now is a Deep State attempt to undermine the will of the people," Bird, a Trump endorser, wrote. "We must not let Washington kill nominations before the Constitutional confirmation process even begins."
Bird's spokesperson, Alyssa Brouillet, said in a statement the article was meant generally to encourage "the entire U.S. Senate" to confirm Trump's appointees. She accused the Des Moines Register of "always trying to pit Republicans against each other."
POLITICS
Backlash to Iowa Republican US Sen. Joni Ernst mounts amid Pete Hegseth nomination fight
Brianne Pfannenstiel Sabine MartinDes Moines Register
0:21
/
1:44
(This story was edited to add new information.)
The pressure campaign against U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst is mounting — including from some Iowa Republicans — as she has so far refused to commit to supporting Pete Hegseth, President-elect Donald Trump's nominee to lead the Department of Defense.
Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird penned a column in the conservative website Breitbart urging the Senate to confirm Trump's Cabinet nominees. Although it doesn't call out Ernst by name, she castigates the "D.C. politicians" who "think they can ignore the voices of their constituents and entertain smears from the same outlets that have pushed out lies for years."
"What we’re witnessing in Washington right now is a Deep State attempt to undermine the will of the people," Bird, a Trump endorser, wrote. "We must not let Washington kill nominations before the Constitutional confirmation process even begins."
Bird's spokesperson, Alyssa Brouillet, said in a statement the article was meant generally to encourage "the entire U.S. Senate" to confirm Trump's appointees. She accused the Des Moines Register of "always trying to pit Republicans against each other."
"It is no secret that Attorney General Bird has been supportive of President Trump and his cabinet picks from the very beginning," she said. "Just this week, Attorney General Bird sent a letter to U.S. Senate leadership, urging them to confirm Pam Bondi as U.S. Attorney General. President Trump needs his team in the field to ensure Washington works for America — not the other way around."
Steve Deace, an Iowa conservative commentator and media personality, posted on the social media website X that he would be willing to run against Ernst in a Republican primary if she seeks reelection in 2026.
"Defeating an incumbent US Senator takes high name ID, connections, and funding potential," he wrote. "I'm one of the few people in Iowa with all three. I don't want to be a Senator, but I am willing to primary her for the good of the cause if I'm assured I have Trump's support going in. Or I am willing to throw my support and network behind someone else President Trump prefers to primary Joni Ernst instead."
Iowa Republican U.S. Rep. Ashley Hinson defended Ernst in a call with Iowa reporters Friday morning, calling her a "fierce conservative fighter."
"She has dedicated her life to serving our Iowans and her country, and it is her constitutional duty to vet all of these nominees thoroughly, and I think that's what she is doing," Hinson said. "That's what she has pledged to do."
In a statement Friday evening, Hinson said Hegseth is a strong pick to lead the Department of Defense.
"I was able to hear him speak earlier this week and think he will be a disruptor, end woke DEI infecting our military, and cut through the endless bureaucracy at the Pentagon," she said. "I’m counting down the days until Trump is in the White House and we can get to work to Make America Great Again.”
In the hours since Ernst's Fox News interview, there has been intense blowback online from the right.
In Iowa, the right-wing Iowa Standard blog has been vocal about calling for a primary challenge to Ernst, highlighting past stances she's taken that were in opposition to Trump.
And Donald Trump Jr. posted on X a list of Republican senators, including Ernst, who voted for Democratic President Joe Biden's defense secretary pick, Lloyd Austin, saying it's "a disgrace" for any of those senators to now withhold support from Hegseth.
Backlash to Iowa Republican US Sen. Joni Ernst mounts amid Pete Hegseth nomination fight
The pressure campaign against U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst is mounting — including in Iowa — as she has so far refused to commit to supporting Pete Hegseth.
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