Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis says he has never discussed replacing Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth with President Trump, and that he expects the president to stick with his Pentagon chief after an impeachment push fizzled in the House this week.
DeSantis made the comments Friday on “The FOX News Rundown” podcast with Fox News’ Peter Doocy, who ended the interview by asking about the persistent chatter that the Florida Republican could be tapped to lead the Pentagon.
“Before I let you go I gotta ask, your name has come up at least twice in the last two years,” Doocy said, noting the problems at the Pentagon and that Trump could nominate a replacement during the current lame-duck session. “Is that something you would be interested in?”
DeSantis said he has not spoken with Trump about the job and backed the president standing by his secretary.
“And, quite frankly, I think he’s going to stand by the current secretary after this impeachment gambit,” DeSantis said.
The question comes as DeSantis prepares to leave the governor’s mansion in January. CBS News reported last week, after Republicans’ midterm losses, that Trump officials were floating DeSantis as a possible Hegseth replacement. One source suggested he could be confirmed by the Senate during the lame-duck period, while the GOP still holds the majority, and take over the Pentagon after his term as governor ends on Jan. 5, 2027.
Other sources told CBS that Trump had not decided to replace Hegseth, and the president denied he was considering it when reporters asked him last week. White House spokeswoman Anna Kelly said the president “has full confidence in Secretary Hegseth.”
It is not the first time DeSantis’ name has been linked to the job. In December 2024, as Hegseth’s nomination appeared to be in trouble, Trump weighed tapping the Florida governor instead, according to multiple reports. Hegseth was ultimately confirmed by the narrowest of margins, with Vice President JD Vance casting the tie-breaking vote. DeSantis, a Navy veteran, served as a Judge Advocate General officer.
Hegseth survived a serious challenge this week. On Monday, outgoing Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., introduced eight articles of impeachment accusing the secretary of waging war against Iran without congressional authorization, ignoring laws meant to minimize civilian casualties and retaliating against Sen. Mark Kelly, D-Ariz., among other charges.
On Tuesday, the House voted 211-204 to send the resolution to the Judiciary Committee, effectively killing the effort for the rest of the current Congress. Massie was the only Republican to back moving forward, and 11 Democrats and seven Republicans missed the vote.
Hegseth came out swinging before the vote at his first Pentagon news conference in six months. He called the impeachment push “a farce” and “a stunt,” and described Massie’s articles as “a political spectacle, a personal manifesto driven by ego and resentment.” Trump showed his support by giving Hegseth a grade of “A+++.”
Massie, for his part, has suggested DeSantis as a possible successor.
“I think Ron DeSantis would be great at it,” Massie said. “I don’t think he would run into the same problems that Hegseth has.”
The fight over Hegseth’s future could resurface next year. Democrats take control of the House in January, and any attempt to revive impeachment would fall to the new Congress.
