U.S. President-elect Donald Trump is considering replacing Pete Hegseth with Florida Governor Ron DeSantis as his nominee to lead the Pentagon, the Wall Street Journal reported on Tuesday (December 3), citing people familiar with the discussions, Reuters reports.
Hegseth's nomination has run into trouble on Capitol Hill over allegations about his personal and professional life and Trump allies increasingly think Hegseth may not survive further scrutiny, the Journal reported. A combat veteran and former Fox News host, Hegseth would need the support of Senate Republicans to win confirmation to the post.
The Trump transition office and DeSantis' office did not immediately respond to requests for comment. DeSantis, who lost his bid for the Republican presidential nomination to Trump, was on an earlier list of potential defense secretary candidates but Trump decided to go with Hegseth, the Journal said.
DeSantis served in the Navy’s Judge Advocate General’s Corps from 2004 to 2010.
