Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, said Pete Hegseth, President-elect Donald Trump’s pick for defense secretary, has her full endorsement following the nominee’s confirmation hearing Tuesday in front of the Senate Armed Services Committee.

Ernst, who served in Iraq and is a retired lieutenant colonel in Iowa’s Army National Guard, had been on the fence about Hegseth, particularly regarding his views about women serving in combat roles.

“After four years of weakness in the White House, Americans deserve a strong Secretary of Defense,” Ernst said in a statement. “Our next commander-in-chief selected Pete Hegseth to serve in this role, and after our conversations, hearing from Iowans, and doing my job as a United States Senator, I will support President Trump’s pick for Secretary of Defense.

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