Ron DeSantis has reportedly emerged as a surprise candidate to be President-elect Trump’s nominee for Secretary of Defense as Pete Hegseth scrambles to salvage his troubled bid to be Pentagon chief.
The Florida governor and onetime bitter Republican primary rival has spoken to Trump about potentially being a Plan B candidate if Hegseth’s nomination collapses amid growing allegations of alcohol use and sexual harassment leveled against the Fox News host, the Wall Street Journal first reported.
“Trump talked to (DeSantis) and wants him to do it,” a source told NBC News.
Hegseth expressed defiance in the face of rising criticism and new revelations as he returned to Capitol Hill to continue meeting with Republican senators.
The decorated veteran and Fox host said he spoke to Trump on Wednesday morning and received a fresh message of support.
“(Trump) said, ‘Keep going, keep fighting. I’m behind you all the way,’” Hegseth told reporters.
“Our warriors never back down, & neither will I,” he tweeted.
One key meeting was expected with Sen. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), a trailblazing female service member who has spoken frankly about dealing with sexual harassment in the ranks.
Ernst has also been named as a possible candidate to lead the Pentagon if Hegseth’s nomination goes down in flames.
Vote-counters say at least six Republican senators are considered potential no votes on Hegseth, leaving him short of the 50 votes needed to win confirmation. There will be 53 GOP senators in the new Congress, with Vice President-elect JD Vance holding a potential tie-breaking vote.
Hegseth has been rocked by allegations of sexual harassment, including some involving excessive alcohol use. Reports say Fox News colleagues were also concerned about his drinking.
As Hegseth tries to rescue his bid, he got a vote of confidence from his mother, Penelope Hegseth.
The elder Hegseth went on Fox News to defend him as a “changed man” after a weekend report revealed an ugly 2017 email in which she called him out as a womanizing drunkard.
“Pete is a new person. He’s redeemed, forgiven, changed. I think we all are after (six) years,” she said.
If Trump decides to dump Hegseth and nominate DeSantis it would mark a remarkable reconciliation after a long and deep feud between the two powerful Republicans.
DeSantis defied Trump to mount a high-profile White House bid in 2023, sparking months of ugly attacks from the former president, who branded him “DeSanctimonious” and worse.
The DeSantis bid collapsed after a disastrous 30% loss to Trump in the Iowa caucuses. He endorsed Trump and returned to his day job as Florida governor but is barred by term limits from running for reelection in 2026.
Some Trump-watchers are skeptical that he will actually bury the hatchet and nominate DeSantis, with many insiders comparing the scenario to his consideration of Sen. Mitt Romney as possible Secretary of State in his first transition in 2016.
After a highly publicized dinner meeting, Trump pulled the plug on Romney’s potential bid.
