MAGA panics as GOP doubts Hegseth nominations will spread

MAGA talking heads are panicking after Pete Hegseth’s bid for Secretary of Defense was overlooked in a vote of confidence for incumbent Lloyd Austin.

President-elect Donald Trump’s pick visited Capitol Hill this week to try to sway Republican senators, after a series of high-profile scandals rocked his candidacy. “I spoke to the president this morning. (Trump) fully supports me. We’re not going anywhere,” Hegseth told the BBC on Wednesday outside the Senate chamber.

But one senator said The Hill anonymously the same day the offer seemed dead in the water. “This is detrimental to the president,” they said.

Iowa Rep. Joni Ernst, a key Republican member of the Armed Services Committee and herself a sexual assault survivor, said Thursday she was not ready to support Hegseth despite meeting with him.

“Well, I had a very long discussion with Pete yesterday, and I appreciate his service to the nation. I’m also a veteran. So we’ve talked about a number of these issues and we’ll continue the process “I think it’s extremely important,” Ernst told Fox News. “So, again, all I’m saying is we had a very frank and productive discussion, and I know. that we will continue to have conversations for month.”

When host Bill Hemmer said that “it doesn’t look like in your answer that you got a yes,” Ernst responded, “I think you’re right.” »

This came as all but seven Senate Republicans voted to confirm Austin, who is a veteran of the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.

This, of course, caused a storm among MAGA hardliners who supported Hegseth to the end. “What a shame. If you are a Republican senator who voted for Lloyd Austin, but you criticize @PeteHegseth, then you may not be in the right political party! » Donald Trump Jr. was furious.

Georgia Rep. Mike Collins called on Senate Republicans to “step up.”

He said: “In what world should Lloyd Austin get 93 votes for confirmation, and Hegseth not 50. Step up, Senate GOP.

Andrew Surabian, a Republican strategist, was equally shaken. He said: “All but 7 Senate Republicans VOTED TO CONFIRM the incompetence of Biden Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin – probably the worst Defense Department chief in American history – who was responsible embarrassment in Afghanistan – think about that when you see Senate RINOs criticizing @PeteHegseth. »

The latest saga follows reports that Trump was considering replacing Hegseth with Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis.

The former Fox News host and former Army National Guard officer has come under scrutiny for an alleged sexual assault and reports of being drunk at work events and other misconduct. Hegseth denies any wrongdoing.