Joni Ernst finally threw in the towel on an anti-Trump crusade that nearly cost her re-election

The battle over Donald Trump’s cabinet nominees is already heating up.

There are some real questions about what RINOs in the U.S. Senate will do.

And Joni Ernst finally threw in the towel on an anti-Trump crusade that nearly cost her re-election.

Senator Joni Ernst (RINO-IA) announced Monday that she will now be supporting President-elect Donald Trump’s nomination of combat veteran and former Fox News host Pete Hegseth as Secretary of Defense.

From a holdout to a hopeful yes vote

For the last few weeks, Ernst had been one of the most prominent RINOs holding out her support for Trump’s Secretary of Defense nominee.

“I think for a number of our senators, they want to make sure that any allegations have been cleared, and that’s why we have to have a very thorough vetting process,” Ernst told Fox News.

But after a meeting with Hegseth on Monday, Ernst said in a statement, “I appreciate Pete Hegseth’s responsiveness and respect for the process. Following our encouraging conversation, Pete committed to completing a full audit of the Pentagon and selecting a senior official who will uphold the roles and value of our servicemen and women, based on quality and standards, not quotas.”

“As I support Pete through this process, I look forward to a hearing based on truth, not anonymous sources,” the Iowa Senator added.

Many conservative activists and leaders credited a well-orchestrated pressure campaign for Ernst’s turnaround.

🚨BREAKING: Senator Joni Ernst announces her SUPPORT For Pete Hegseth as Secretary of Defense.

Ernst says she believes Pete Hegseth and not “anonymous sources”

WE WON: pic.twitter.com/j73zDDkdtV

— Benny Johnson (@bennyjohnson) December 9, 2024

Hegseth said the meeting he had with Ernst was “very good,” saying they connected on a number of issues as fellow combat veterans who want what’s best for the military.

.@hegseth emerges from a second meeting with Sen. Ernst calling it a “very good meeting.” He said he’s known her for 10 years, “the more we talk, the more we are reminded that we are two combat veterans and we are dedicated to defense.” pic.twitter.com/xkEoKdoiCH

— Samantha-Jo Roth (@SamanthaJoRoth) December 9, 2024

A smear campaign based on “anonymous” sources

Whatever the reason, Ernst’s change comes even as the smear campaign against Hegseth heats up.

Last week, NBC News ran a story based on 10 anonymous sources, who claimed to either currently work or formerly worked for Fox News.

These anonymous sources claimed Hegseth drank alcohol in excess at times.

Hegseth flatly denied the allegation during an interview with Megyn Kelly, and argued that people should simply “check the tape” regarding whether he was ever drunk or hung over on-air.

Kelly noted, “I did see every single member of ‘Fox & Friends’ … go on the air and say, ‘This is BS.’”

Hegseth further committed that if he should become Secretary of Defense, he will view it like a combat deployment and not drink at all while in office.

These allegations are just the latest in the Left’s attempts to “Kavanaugh” Pete Hegseth.

They’ve also brought up flatly false rape allegations that have been thoroughly investigated and proven untrue.

But of course, to the radical Left and their RINO comrades, truth and facts have no meaning.

They will use anything, true or not, to try and completely destroy anyone they do not like.

And after former Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) withdrew his name from consideration for Attorney General, the vultures are circling and have Hegseth in their sights.

So far Hegseth has said he will fight to the end, and President-elect Trump has stood by him.

Ernst’s turnaround was a big boost to his nomination efforts, if she can be trusted to hold firm.