U.S. President-elect Donald Trump is considering nominating Florida Governor Ron DeSantis for the position of Secretary of Defense, replacing his previously proposed candidate, Fox News host Pete Hegseth. This information was reported by The Wall Street Journal.
The publication states that Trump decided to change the Pentagon nominee due to the increasing number of accusations against Hegseth. Trump’s allies are increasingly concerned that Hegseth might not withstand further scrutiny, according to people close to the president-elect’s team.
Sources say that the next 48 hours will be crucial for Hegseth’s future. DeSantis had initially been included in a preliminary list of potential candidates for Secretary of Defense presented to the president-elect by transition officials, but Trump ultimately chose Hegseth.
However, due to the problems facing Hegseth’s nomination, that list was revived, and DeSantis is now among those being considered, sources said.
One source mentioned that the discussion is still in its early stages, and Trump has brought up DeSantis’s name in casual conversations with guests at his Mar-a-Lago estate. According to sources, Trump may decide not to pick DeSantis and choose a different replacement if Hegseth’s nomination fails.
Another potential candidate being discussed by Trump’s allies is Elbridge Colby, a former Pentagon official and ally of the president-elect’s running mate, JD Vance. Trump is also considering Senator Joni Ernst, the sources added.
At the same time, it was noted that some of Trump’s circle strongly dislike DeSantis, which could undermine his chances of replacing Hegseth.
