Pressure on a veteran and senator shows what's next for those who oppose Trump
Story by JILL COLVIN, LISA MASCARO and HANNAH FINGERHUT • 2h
WASHINGTON (AP) — She’s an Iraq War combat veteran and sexual assault survivor who has advocated for years to improve how the military handles claims of sexual misconduct.
But when Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, appeared initially cool to the nomination of President-elect Donald Trump ’s choice of Pete Hegseth to serve as defense secretary — a man who once said women should not serve in combat and who has himself been accused of sexual assault — she faced an onslaught of criticism from within her own party, including threats of a potential primary challenge in 2026.
“The American people spoke,” said Bob Vander Plaats, president and CEO of the Family Leader and a conservative activist in Ernst’s home state.
“When you sign up for this job, it’s a big boy and big girl job, and she’s feeling the pressure of people vocalizing their disappointment, their concern with how she’s handling this.”
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/pressure-on-a-veteran-and-senator-shows-what-s-next-for-those-who-oppose-trump/ar-AA1vJPr7?ocid=msedgntp&pc=HCTS&cvid=9bb8d94064d64ef69cd190ac72fb9c06&ei=28
