Pete Hegseth's Pentagon days numbered? US Defense Secretary, facing controversies, reveals his next move
Pete Hegseth is reportedly considering stepping down from his Pentagon duties to pursue political office in his adopted home state, reported NBC. He privately discussed the idea for running for political office next year in Tennessee, said two people who spoken to him about it.
According to Defense Department rules that prevent civilian employees from seeking political office, Hegseth would need to resign his post to launch a campaign.
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One of the two people whom Pete Hegseth spoke to said their discussion happened within the past three weeks and it was a serious one, and not just spitballing the idea. The other person also termed the conversation as serious but did not reveal what the discussion was about, the report said.
It was reported that much of the discussion centered on what it would take to run for the office. One person said they discussed the eligibility requirements to run for governor of Tennessee and Hegseth's chances of winning. The other person said they talked with Hegseth about the realities of a campaign.
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The people who have spoken with Hegseth said he has specifically mentioned a possible campaign for governor in Tennessee, where he lives. The state has an open race for governor next year, though there are eligibility requirements for candidates that Hegseth might not meet, sources told NBC News.
People who have spoken with the Secretary of Defense have commented that he has specifically mentioned a possible campaign for governor in Tennessee, despite not meeting some of the requirements.
Pete Hegseth explodes
If Pete Hegseth were to follow through, it would mark the biggest shake-up in Pentagon leadership since the Trump administration ousted Joint Chiefs of Staff General Charles Brown in February. However, Hegseth's office quashed rumors that the head of the Department of Defense will be leaving his lofty position in the Pentagon to run for office.
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Speaking to Express US, the Pentagon slammed the story, which was initially run by NBC News. "Fake news NBC is so desperate for attention, they are shopping around a made-up story… again," Chief Pentagon Spokesman Sean Parnell said.
"Only two options exist: either the 'sources' are imaginary, or these reporters are getting punked," Parnell continued. "Secretary Hegseth's focus remains solely on serving under President Trump and advancing the America First mission at the Department of Defense." "Thank you for your attention to this matter!" Parnell concluded
Both sources, however, commented that they are unsure if he would actually compete in the race. Others in Hegseth's orbit have declared that he does not plan to run. One person allegedly told NBC that after speaking with the secretary, it was 'very, very clear' that any type of political run was 'totally off the table.'
Tennessee will have an open race with incumbent GOP Governor Bill Lee constitutionally prohibited from seeking a third consecutive term.
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Pete Hegseth and his controversies
It is not the first time Hegseth has reportedly eyed political office. The former Fox News host ran for a Senate seat in Minnesota in 2012, but he withdrew after failing to win the Republican nomination. Minnesota also has an open Senate seat next year.
Since his confirmation in January, Hegseth has faced multiple controversies, including firing three senior Pentagon appointees – Dan Caldwell, Colin Carroll, and Darin Selnick – who he accused of leaking classified and sensitive information to the media.
The defense secretary was engulfed in Signalgate in April after top officials mistakenly included The Atlantic editor-in-chief Jeffrey Goldberg in a Signal group chat, giving him a front-row seat to discussions about impending U.S. strikes on Houthi militants in Yemen back in March. He also faced backlash after his wife attended high-level sensitive military meetings.
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