President-elect Donald Trump is considering Florida Governor Ron DeSantis as a potential replacement for embattled Defense Secretary nominee Pete Hegseth, according to sources familiar with the discussions.
Trump and DeSantis, a Navy veteran who served in Iraq, have already spoken directly about the position, sources told NBC News Tuesday. “Trump talked to the governor and wants him to do it,” one source said. The Wall Street Journal first reported DeSantis’s consideration overnight.
The potential shift comes as Hegseth’s nomination faces mounting scrutiny, with as many as six Republican senators expressing reservations over allegations involving drinking and his treatment of women. Hegseth has denied allegations of mistreating women and hasn’t responded to questions about drinking concerns.
Additional candidates under consideration include Senators Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) and Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.), along with Representative Mike Waltz (R-Fla.), previously tapped as Trump’s national security adviser. Ernst, like DeSantis, brings military experience as an Army Reserve and National Guard veteran who served in Iraq.
The possible nomination of DeSantis marks a significant turnaround in the relationship between the two Republicans. DeSantis challenged Trump for the 2024 presidential nomination before dropping out in January and endorsing him, despite previous campaign tensions that saw Trump label him “Ron DeSanctimonious.”
Unlike many of Trump’s cabinet picks, DeSantis has publicly acknowledged Trump’s 2020 election loss, contrasting with others who have supported claims of election fraud.
