Senator Joni Ernst is being criticized for refusing to back President-elect Donald Trump’s pick for Defense Secretary.

The Iowa Republican has reportedly not committed to voting to confirm Pete Hegseth to lead the Pentagon. This week, a report cited sources to reveal she has been leading “an ‘aggressive’ personal jihad” against the decorated military veteran and former Fox News host.

“She’s waging a campaign to replace Pete with herself,” a Trump source told The Federalist on Wednesday, noting that Ernst allegedly called the incoming president ahead of her meeting with Hegseth to urge Trump to drop his nomination.

The popular DC Draino account on X reminded of the senator’s own record as a lawmaker claiming to be Republican.

What if I told you there was a US Senator who:

-wants transgender troops in the military

-voted for the biggest gun control bill in decades

-sends money to Ukraine

-confirmed Biden’s Cabinet picks

-opposes Trump’s Cabinet picks

Which party would you think they’re in? pic.twitter.com/FWp94BfGgu

— DC_Draino (@DC_Draino) December 5, 2024

Ernst posted after meeting with Hegseth, saying they “had a frank and thorough conversation” while not saying anything about confirming him. She was met with instant reactions on X where users put her on notice.

We’re going to primary you and you’ll get this result. Stop the nonsense. Confirm or get a primary. pic.twitter.com/wDezMEZGeD

— Catturd ™ (@catturd2) December 4, 2024

Frankly, you should uphold the will of the American people and vow to vote yes on his confirmation.

Anything short of that, well, that’s where we come in.

If you value your career in politics, it would be most wise to stop your antics and get on board.

We. Are. Watching.

— Gunther Eagleman™ (@GuntherEagleman) December 4, 2024

Whatever game you are playing, it needs to end.

The voters overwhelmingly voted for the Trump agenda, not for a bunch of self-serving Republican Senators who are trying to cash in on Trump’s victory.

— IT Guy (@ITGuy1959) December 4, 2024

A “source in Trump world” told The Federalist that Ernst did not just call Trump one time about Hegseth but that she’s  “constantly calling and nagging him.”

A representative for the senator told the publication, “Just more Washington whispers. Senator Ernst met with Pete Hegseth today as part of the confirmation process.”

Ernst spoke of her stance on Hegseth during an appearance on “America’s Newsroom” on Fox News this week.

“A number of our senators, they want to make sure that any allegations have been cleared and that’s why we have to have a very thorough vetting process,” she said. “The vetting will continue, I am certain, through the next month or so until we approach that hearing date.”

🚨 #BREAKING: Joni Ernst is still REFUSING to vote to confirm Pete Hegseth, because she thinks she can sabotage him and get the job

Despicable.

We OVERWHELMINGLY voted for the Trump Agenda, Joni. Get the hell out of the way, or lose your seat in 2026. pic.twitter.com/UQKZaybCUw

— Nick Sortor (@nicksortor) December 5, 2024

But her own record has come under criticism, and she was specifically called out by Hegseth’s former Fox News colleague, Will Cain.

WOW: Fox News host @WillCain goes scorched earth on the salacious smears against @PeteHegseth

He makes a clear case that #OnlyPete is not just about SecDef but the entire mandate for disruption that MAGA demands.

Hold the line, save the country.pic.twitter.com/Fddfsd2U5E

— John Strand (@JohnStrandUSA) December 5, 2024

Social media users shredded Ernst and other lawmakers who call themselves Republican.

Senator Joni Ernst (R) voted to confirm Lloyd Austin for Secretary of Defense who turned our military into a woke laughingstock but is refusing to say if she will confirm Pete Hegseth.

So she supports all this trash but doesn’t support a strong Conservative who will strengthen… pic.twitter.com/F2nKpoIQy6

— Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) December 5, 2024

Ernst Appears to have a Different agenda than that of the 47th POTUS. https://t.co/WRJE80fuI0 pic.twitter.com/m9G14eQm0U

— Steve Kerwin (@stevenkerwin) December 6, 2024

Our biggest failure in MAGA is that we never focused on getting the degenerates out of the Senate. They flew way under the MAGA radar. No longer.

— Stacey Celebrates (@SunlightShine55) December 5, 2024

A Liberal Democrat from Iowa who claims to be a Republican.

— Ricardo (@lanerichard75) December 5, 2024

This morning Iowa Senator, Joni Ernst, made the horrible mistake of still refusing to confirm support of Pete Hegseth’s nomination. Since then we’ve discovered she:

-Voted to confirm Lloyd Austin for Secretary of Defense (responsible for the horrific Afghanistan withdrawal,… pic.twitter.com/JDFqPBzd23

— Savanah Hernandez (@sav_says_) December 5, 2024