Sen. Joni Ernst of Iowa, who had been seen as a key Republican skeptic of Pete Hegseth’s nomination to lead the Defense Department, said she will support him after his performance at Tuesday’s confirmation hearing.

Pete Hegseth spent several hours in front of the Senate, where Democrats repeatedly questioned his fitness for the position of secretary of defense.

Senate Democrats grilled Pete Hegseth, President-elect Trump's pick for defense secretary, about allegations of sexual assault and excessive drinking and his comments about women in combat. Hegseth said the allegations were part of a smear campaign in the media against him.