Pete Hegseth gets a surprising boost after Trump’s MAGA allies put pressure on the skeptical senator

Donald Trump’s nominee to lead the Pentagon, Pete Hegseth, got new momentum for his Cabinet bid, a sign that Republicans are bending to Donald Trump’s will.

Hegseth is battling reports of allegations of sexual assault and excessive alcohol consumption that could hinder his appointment.

He has denied these claims and still has strong support from Trump, who publicly reiterated his support during an NBC interview that aired Sunday.

Trump’s MAGA allies took action to pressure key Republican decision makers.

And it’s seemingly paying off, as Hegseth may have a path to confirmation and political victory, with a skeptical Republican key — Sen. Joni Ernst — indicating she’s on board.

“While I support Pete through this process, I look forward to a fair hearing based on the truth, not anonymous sources,” she said after a second meeting with the former Fox News host.

Notably, her statement fell short of calling a vote for his nomination — but nevertheless provided vital support by suggesting he deserved a hearing.

Ernst, himself a survivor of sexual assault, had called this weekend for “a very thorough investigation before moving forward.”

With three Republicans previously raising concerns about Hegseth — Lisa Murkowski, Susan Collins and Mitch McConnell — her opposition could derail the nomination. He can only afford to lose three votes to gain the necessary support for confirmation.

Ernst is also the first female combat veteran to serve in Congress — and Hegseth has been a harsh critic of women serving in combat roles. She has focused on legislation and oversight of sexual abuse and harassment in the military.

She faced a MAGA ally public pressure campaign and even threats of a primary challenge that threatened to put her on the path to expulsion.

After the implosion of his choice for Attorney General Matt Gaetz, amid sex trafficking allegations that Gaetz denies, Trump chose to back his controversial nominee for the Pentagon.

‘Looks like Pete is doing well now. I mean, people were a little concerned,” he told NBC’s “Meet the Press” in an interview that aired Sunday. “He’s a young guy with a great track record. Actually, I went to Princeton and went to Harvard. He was a good student in both, but he loves the military, and I think people are starting to see it. So we, together with a lot of others, will work on his nomination.’

Trump’s MAGA allies were applying pressure and determined to “draw a red line here” to send a message to senators and support other problematic nominations, a person with knowledge of the transition said. Politics.

Hegseth himself helped drum up support, with the former Fox News host writing on X: “The Left is afraid of disruptors and change agents. They’re afraid of @realDonaldTrump – and me. So they smear with fake, anonymous sources and BS stories. They don’t want the truth.’

Among those who expressed doubts was Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, a former military lawyer.

Sen. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) met with Hegseth in her Senate office as she faced a public pressure campaign. She issued a statement saying, “While I support Pete through this process, I look forward to a fair hearing based on the truth, not anonymous sources.”

Hegseth posted a smiling photo with Ernst

“Some of these articles are very disturbing,” Graham said CBS last Tuesday, amid a flurry of reports about Hegseth’s work at a veterans nonprofit and at Fox, following the sexual assault allegations, which he denies. Investigators never filed charges, and Hegseth paid a financial settlement to the California woman while admitting no wrongdoing.

“He clearly has a chance to defend himself here, but some of these things are going to be difficult. Good order and discipline are important, leadership comes from the top and I want to ensure that every young woman who joins the military feels respected and welcome,” Graham said.

But just a day later, in comments to Fox, Graham had turned Hegseth defender. “The allegations against Pete are all anonymous sources. “I’m not going to make any decision based on an anonymous source,” the Armed Services Committee member said. “If you’re not willing to raise your hand under oath and make the accusation, it doesn’t count,” he added.

Hegseth went on the attack on Monday, denouncing the allegations on Sean Hannity’s show about Fox, his former employer.

“It was fully investigated at the time, years ago, and I was completely exonerated,” Hegseth said. “And that’s why, Sean, you know what I’m looking forward to? I look forward to the FBI background check.”

“I look forward to actual sworn conversations with senators as we move through the process,” he said. He called the campaign against him “the anatomy of a smear test.”

He posted an image of himself grinning next to Ernst. “She has long been a leader on many important defense issues – which I greatly appreciate. I welcome her continued counsel. I am grateful for Senator Ernst’s support throughout this process,” Hegseth wrote.

In one indication of how the winds may have changed, says Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.). said Some of his Republican colleagues were against Hegseth leading the massive department with its three million employees, but they could still vote for him “because Trump is a bully and a tyrant.”