Trump thinks about DeSantis for Defense Secretary while Hegseth seems to struggle
Hegseth has been accused of alcohol abuse and sexual assault.
TroibNews 
President-elect Donald Trump is contemplating the nomination of Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, a rival from the Republican primary, for the position of Defense Secretary, as reported by two individuals familiar with the situation.
DeSantis would take over from Pete Hegseth, whose chances for confirmation seem to be diminishing due to allegations related to sexual assault and alcohol abuse.
The decision has not been finalized, as stated by the two individuals who spoke anonymously about the internal discussions.
Incorporating DeSantis into Trump’s administration could bolster the governor's political future, especially since he is term-limited and set to leave office in early 2027. This opening might allow him to run for president again. Should DeSantis step down, Lt. Gov. Jeanette Nuñez would ascend to the governorship, making her the first female governor of Florida and the first of Cuban descent.
The Wall Street Journal was the first to report on Trump’s consideration of DeSantis. Hegseth is still engaging with senators this week and has a scheduled appearance on Fox News for Wednesday morning, accompanied by his mother.
Hegseth is already facing significant hurdles for confirmation due to a 2017 sexual assault allegation and a lack of experience leading large organizations, especially one as intricate as the Pentagon. His situation worsened following a report from The New Yorker detailing his ousting from leadership roles in two veterans organizations amid claims of mismanagement, alcohol issues, and sexual misconduct.
He is actively meeting with Senate Republicans this week to bolster his nomination. He can only afford to lose three Republicans in a confirmation vote, given that all Democrats are expected to oppose him.
On Wednesday, he is anticipated to meet with several more GOP senators, including Roger Wicker, the incoming Senate Armed Services Chair who will oversee the confirmation of Trump’s Defense Secretary, and incoming Majority Leader John Thune.
Hegseth, who is an Army National Guard veteran and former Fox News personality, has faced various allegations, including one of sexual assault from 2017 that was investigated by California police. Although he reached a settlement with the accuser and was never charged, he denies any wrongdoing.
The degree of opposition that Hegseth faces in the Senate—particularly from Republican women—has raised concerns about his confirmation viability, according to a Republican official who spoke anonymously.
He will have the opportunity to improve his situation with the interview on Fox and his meetings on Capitol Hill, including one with Iowa Senator Joni Ernst, but the official expressed skepticism regarding his chances of success.
Like Hegseth, DeSantis may align with Trump’s expressed ambition to eliminate “woke” military officers from the Defense Department.
During his presidential campaign, the Florida governor proposed military reforms that aimed to remove diversity initiatives, prohibit transgender service members, and reinstate those dismissed for refusing the COVID-19 vaccine.
On Tuesday, DeSantis and Trump spoke at a memorial in Palm Beach honoring three law enforcement officers who died in a vehicle accident last month. A source privy to their conversation confirmed this, though it remains unclear if the Defense Secretary position was discussed.
DeSantis and Trump previously engaged in a heated primary contest, ultimately culminating in the governor's withdrawal after the Iowa Caucuses. DeSantis criticized Trump for not being conservative enough and played down Trump’s endorsement impact during his 2018 gubernatorial election. However, they reached a truce this summer, with DeSantis assisting in fundraising efforts for Trump.
Despite their reconciliations, there continues to be some unease regarding the direction of Florida post-Trump's election, particularly with the president-elect selecting numerous individuals from his adopted home state for his administration.
One source familiar with the situation noted that DeSantis’ name was included on a list of candidates for various administration roles, including Defense, circulated weeks ago, yet the governor initially did not show interest. His candidacy was reconsidered as Hegseth faced increasing scrutiny.
After Trump’s election, DeSantis expressed a desire to remain in Florida, stating during an event at the University of Notre Dame that he was “not seeking anything” and emphasized the importance of his governorship in making a meaningful impact.
As speculation continues around DeSantis’ potential appointment, he also has his own important political decisions to make. He is set to select a successor for Senator Marco Rubio, who has been nominated by Trump for Secretary of State. DeSantis indicated he would announce his choice by early January after conducting interviews with potential candidates.
Lara Trump, the president's daughter-in-law, has indicated interest in the position, but DeSantis has several Florida Republicans potentially in the running as well.
Elected as Florida’s governor in 2018, DeSantis quickly emerged as a prominent figure among conservatives, thanks in part to his handling of the COVID pandemic and his willingness to engage in contentious debates over issues of race, education, and gender identity.
However, DeSantis’ political future faced uncertainty following his unsuccessful presidential campaign. He has consistently reassured allies that he is not interested in a Senate seat, despite having previously aimed for Rubio’s position when Rubio initially sought the presidency.
DeSantis graduated from Yale University and earned a law degree from Harvard. During his time in law school, he joined the U.S. Navy and served as a Judge Advocate General officer, eventually becoming a legal adviser for a SEAL team.
In his memoir published prior to his presidential bid, DeSantis discussed his military experience and criticized the “burden of the post 9/11 operations” falling on a small segment of the population, as well as President George H.W. Bush’s execution of the Iraq war.
Contributions to this report were made by Rachael Bade and Connor O'Brien.
Lucas Dupont for TROIB News
DeSantis would take over from Pete Hegseth, whose chances for confirmation seem to be diminishing due to allegations related to sexual assault and alcohol abuse.
The decision has not been finalized, as stated by the two individuals who spoke anonymously about the internal discussions.
Incorporating DeSantis into Trump’s administration could bolster the governor's political future, especially since he is term-limited and set to leave office in early 2027. This opening might allow him to run for president again. Should DeSantis step down, Lt. Gov. Jeanette Nuñez would ascend to the governorship, making her the first female governor of Florida and the first of Cuban descent.
The Wall Street Journal was the first to report on Trump’s consideration of DeSantis. Hegseth is still engaging with senators this week and has a scheduled appearance on Fox News for Wednesday morning, accompanied by his mother.
Hegseth is already facing significant hurdles for confirmation due to a 2017 sexual assault allegation and a lack of experience leading large organizations, especially one as intricate as the Pentagon. His situation worsened following a report from The New Yorker detailing his ousting from leadership roles in two veterans organizations amid claims of mismanagement, alcohol issues, and sexual misconduct.
He is actively meeting with Senate Republicans this week to bolster his nomination. He can only afford to lose three Republicans in a confirmation vote, given that all Democrats are expected to oppose him.
On Wednesday, he is anticipated to meet with several more GOP senators, including Roger Wicker, the incoming Senate Armed Services Chair who will oversee the confirmation of Trump’s Defense Secretary, and incoming Majority Leader John Thune.
Hegseth, who is an Army National Guard veteran and former Fox News personality, has faced various allegations, including one of sexual assault from 2017 that was investigated by California police. Although he reached a settlement with the accuser and was never charged, he denies any wrongdoing.
The degree of opposition that Hegseth faces in the Senate—particularly from Republican women—has raised concerns about his confirmation viability, according to a Republican official who spoke anonymously.
He will have the opportunity to improve his situation with the interview on Fox and his meetings on Capitol Hill, including one with Iowa Senator Joni Ernst, but the official expressed skepticism regarding his chances of success.
Like Hegseth, DeSantis may align with Trump’s expressed ambition to eliminate “woke” military officers from the Defense Department.
During his presidential campaign, the Florida governor proposed military reforms that aimed to remove diversity initiatives, prohibit transgender service members, and reinstate those dismissed for refusing the COVID-19 vaccine.
On Tuesday, DeSantis and Trump spoke at a memorial in Palm Beach honoring three law enforcement officers who died in a vehicle accident last month. A source privy to their conversation confirmed this, though it remains unclear if the Defense Secretary position was discussed.
DeSantis and Trump previously engaged in a heated primary contest, ultimately culminating in the governor's withdrawal after the Iowa Caucuses. DeSantis criticized Trump for not being conservative enough and played down Trump’s endorsement impact during his 2018 gubernatorial election. However, they reached a truce this summer, with DeSantis assisting in fundraising efforts for Trump.
Despite their reconciliations, there continues to be some unease regarding the direction of Florida post-Trump's election, particularly with the president-elect selecting numerous individuals from his adopted home state for his administration.
One source familiar with the situation noted that DeSantis’ name was included on a list of candidates for various administration roles, including Defense, circulated weeks ago, yet the governor initially did not show interest. His candidacy was reconsidered as Hegseth faced increasing scrutiny.
After Trump’s election, DeSantis expressed a desire to remain in Florida, stating during an event at the University of Notre Dame that he was “not seeking anything” and emphasized the importance of his governorship in making a meaningful impact.
As speculation continues around DeSantis’ potential appointment, he also has his own important political decisions to make. He is set to select a successor for Senator Marco Rubio, who has been nominated by Trump for Secretary of State. DeSantis indicated he would announce his choice by early January after conducting interviews with potential candidates.
Lara Trump, the president's daughter-in-law, has indicated interest in the position, but DeSantis has several Florida Republicans potentially in the running as well.
Elected as Florida’s governor in 2018, DeSantis quickly emerged as a prominent figure among conservatives, thanks in part to his handling of the COVID pandemic and his willingness to engage in contentious debates over issues of race, education, and gender identity.
However, DeSantis’ political future faced uncertainty following his unsuccessful presidential campaign. He has consistently reassured allies that he is not interested in a Senate seat, despite having previously aimed for Rubio’s position when Rubio initially sought the presidency.
DeSantis graduated from Yale University and earned a law degree from Harvard. During his time in law school, he joined the U.S. Navy and served as a Judge Advocate General officer, eventually becoming a legal adviser for a SEAL team.
In his memoir published prior to his presidential bid, DeSantis discussed his military experience and criticized the “burden of the post 9/11 operations” falling on a small segment of the population, as well as President George H.W. Bush’s execution of the Iraq war.
Contributions to this report were made by Rachael Bade and Connor O'Brien.
Lucas Dupont for TROIB News
