President-elect Donald Trump is reportedly exploring the possibility of replacing his controversial pick for defense secretary, Pete Hegseth, with Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, sources told The Wall Street Journal on Tuesday.
The reconsideration comes as Hegseth, a 44-year-old Army veteran and former Fox News contributor, faces mounting allegations of sexual misconduct and financial improprieties.
His nomination for the Pentagon role, which requires Senate confirmation, has drawn criticism from at least six Senate Republicans, complicating his path to approval.
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DeSantis, a former Navy Judge Advocate General Corps officer, was previously shortlisted for the defense secretary position but lost out to Hegseth during Trump’s initial decision-making process. However, as concerns about Hegseth deepen, transition officials have revived DeSantis’s candidacy.
According to the Journal, the possibility of nominating DeSantis, 46, has been floated in recent days. Trump and DeSantis appeared together at a police memorial event in Palm Beach County on Tuesday, adding fuel to the speculation.
Hegseth has been actively campaigning for Senate support this week, meeting with GOP lawmakers to address concerns about his leadership and defend his record. However, allegations against him continue to surface. A 2017 sexual assault claim from Monterey County, California, though dismissed without charges, has raised eyebrows among lawmakers. Additionally, a New Yorker report detailed accusations of misconduct during Hegseth’s tenure with veterans’ advocacy groups Veterans for Freedom and Concerned Veterans for America.
READ: Whoopi Goldberg Falsely Says Pete Hegseth ‘Clearly Does Not Know Anything About The Military’
The report alleges that Hegseth misused organizational funds for personal indulgences and failed to address instances of sexual harassment among his senior staff. One particularly egregious account describes him attempting to join performers on stage during a 2014 visit to a Louisiana strip club, only to be escorted off by a female colleague before being removed by security. Other claims include drunken outbursts and inflammatory rhetoric during official events.
If nominated, DeSantis’s approach to Pentagon leadership would likely align with his outspoken criticisms of “woke” military policies.
During his presidential campaign, he pledged to eliminate diversity initiatives and programs focusing on climate change within the Department of Defense. He also vowed to restore discipline and order within the military, banning events such as drag shows on bases and reversing Biden-era policies allowing transgender service members to serve openly.
While DeSantis has reportedly been approached about the role, sources caution that Trump, 78, has not made a final decision and may consider other candidates should Hegseth’s nomination falter. For now, Hegseth remains Trump’s official pick, though his embattled candidacy continues to face significant hurdles.
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