Sen. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) has voiced support for President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee for defense secretary, Pete Hegseth, following his confirmation hearing on Tuesday. “After four years of weakness in the White House, Americans deserve a strong Secretary of Defense,” Ernst said in a statement after Hegseth’s hearing before the Senate Armed Services Committee. “Our next commander in chief selected Pete Hegseth to serve in this role, and after our conversations, hearing from Iowans, and doing my job as a United States Senator, I will support President Trump’s pick for Secretary of Defense.” The senator said that she would work with Hegseth “to create the most lethal fighting force” and hold him to his commitments of “auditing the Pentagon, ensuring opportunity for women in combat while maintaining high standards, and selecting a senior official to address and prevent sexual assault in the ranks” if he is confirmed as defense secretary….