In many respects, the choice of Fox News personality Pete Hegseth to become secretary of Defense was Donald Trump’s most precedent-defying second-term Cabinet nomination given the enormous magnitude of the job,

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 emerged from a Senate hearing with the support of the Republican Party intact following weeks of scrutiny over his qualifications and allegations of misconduct.

During a contentious hearing, Republicans rallied to the defense of Donald Trump’s pick for Pentagon chief as he faced tough questions about allegations of misconduct and his views on women.