Pete Hegseth: We look forward to earning these confirmation votes

Trump nominee for Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth speaks to 'Hannity' about the challenges he faces in the confirmation process, his views on press coverage, Trump's support and more.

President-elect Donald Trump's pick for secretary of defense, Pete Hegseth, celebrated that he had a "great meeting" with Sen. Joni Ernst after the Iowa Republican slow-walked an endorsement of the Cabinet nominee.

"It was a great meeting. People don't really know this. I've known Sen. Ernst for over 10 years. I knew her when she was a state senator running to be the first female combat veteran," Hegseth told Fox News' Sean Hannity in an exclusive interview Monday evening. "And we supported her in that effort, and have continued to."

"You get into these meetings and you to listen to senators – it's an amazing advise and consent process -- and you hear how thoughtful, serious, substantive they are on these key issues that pertain to our Defense Department," he continued. "And Joni Ernst is front and center on that. So to able to have phone calls and meetings time and time again to talk over the issues is really, really important. The fact that she's willing to support me through this process means a lot."

https://www.foxnews.com/politics/hegseth-reveals-what-happened-during-pivotal-confirmation-meeting-ernst