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Reports indicate that President-elect Donald Trump is weighing the possibility of replacing Pete Hegseth, his defense secretary nominee, with Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, as concerns mount over Hegseth’s Senate confirmation prospects.
The Wall Street Journal reports that Trump’s transition team views the next 48 hours as decisive for Hegseth’s nomination, amid multiple allegations of misconduct. Hegseth is set to meet with key senators, including Senator Joni Ernst, an Iowa Republican and sexual assault survivor, according to The New York Times.
See folks? We CAN have nice things. We need exceptional people like Ron DeSantis in our government. DeSantis has great character.
He would make a far better Secretary of Defense than Hegseth. pic.twitter.com/4zLFdlIAU0
— Free (@KaladinFree) December 4, 2024
The situation intensified as Hegseth’s mother appeared on Fox News to defend her son against allegations involving workplace alcohol consumption, sexual misconduct, and financial irregularities. Sources suggest Trump is frustrated that Hegseth wasn’t more transparent about potential confirmation obstacles.
The Washington Post reported that Trump and DeSantis discussed the defense secretary position during a West Palm Beach ceremony honoring fallen sheriff’s deputies. Earlier discussions about the role reportedly occurred over summer, according to The Bulwark and the Journal.
Additional potential candidates include Senator Bill Hagerty, Senator Joni Ernst, and Representative Mike Waltz, who’s already been tapped as White House national security adviser, NBC News reports.
Despite their previously tense relationship, marked by Trump’s “DeSanctimonious” nickname during the 2024 presidential primary, the two politicians have worked to repair their rapport since DeSantis’s campaign exit and subsequent Trump endorsement.
Fox News reporting this morning: I’m told that the report is legitimate.
While I’m the biggest DeSantis fan and he would make an incredible Defense Secretary, that’s not an excuse to drop Pete Hegseth over fabricated accusations.
Keep the pushing for Pete. pic.twitter.com/nJyNIKRiH1
— Dustin Grage (@GrageDustin) December 4, 2024
In a “Fox & Friends” appearance, Penelope Hegseth addressed a 2018 email she wrote confronting her son about his treatment of women, particularly regarding his relationship with his current wife while still married. The New Yorker recently reported multiple allegations of inappropriate conduct with female staffers, and a 2017 sexual assault accusation, which Hegseth maintains was consensual.
Hegseth, a former Fox News host and Army National Guard major with combat experience in Iraq and Afghanistan, would oversee a military force of 2 million, including a significant female component, if confirmed.
During her television appearance, Penelope Hegseth directly addressed Trump, assuring that her son had changed over the past seven years. She explained that her email was written during an emotionally charged divorce period, and she had retracted it shortly after sending it.
