President-elect Trump threw his support behind embattled defense secretary pick Pete Hegseth Friday as the nominee continues to meet with Republican senators.

The Republican senator from Iowa faces some criticism from Iowa activists. Her Senate seat is up in the 2026 election.

Joni Ernst signaled Monday that she is warming to Defense Secretary designee Pete Hegseth after days ... accusations lodged against Hegseth, who co-hosted “Fox & Friends” on the weekends ...

Ernst, the first female combat veteran in the Senate, has been threatened with a primary challenge over her reticence - so ...

You go up against Pete Hegseth, the president repeatedly ... Ernst during her successful 2014 Senate campaign, told Fox News that "Joni Ernst is doing what the Constitution says what her job ...

Joni Ernst said in a statement Monday she will "support Pete through this process." “I appreciate Pete Hegseth’s responsiveness ... But in a Fox News interview the next day, she said ...

Joni Ernst is mounting − including from some Iowa Republicans− as she refuses to commit to supporting Pete Hegseth ... But in a Fox News interview the next day, she said she has not gotten ...

Joni Ernst (R-Iowa ... been hesitant to support Pete Hegseth, President-elect Donald Trump’s pick for defense secretary, emerged from a meeting with the former Fox News host on Monday saying ...

The fate of Pete Hegseth’s chances to be the next secretary of defense may still be in the hands of Sen. Joni Ernst of Iowa. But, for now, she kindly requests that you ask someone else about it.

Joni Ernst of Iowa told a mostly Republican audience Dec. 7 that she needed to hear more from Pete Hegseth to support him ... Donald Trump’s choice of the Fox News anchor. It’s not just ...

DNC official Lindy Li defended Hegseth during an appearance on NewsNation this week, calling him a "pretty good guy." ...

Senator Ernst has a chance to buttress a reputation for taking seriously allegations of abuse against women, writes Rekha ...