Washington – The Secretary of Defense, Pete Hegseth, has deprived in private the idea of running for a political position next year in Tennessee, according to two people who have talked directly with him about it.
If Hegseth followed the discussions, he would be equivalent to a great leadership shake in the department that supervises the US military and millions of federal employees. The Defense Department prohibits civilian employees from running for a political position, which means that Hegseth would have to resign to do so.
In a statement, Sean Parnell, the main spokesman of the Pentagon, said: “The Hegesh approach remains only in serving under President Trump.”
One of the people said that his discussion with Hegseth happened in the last three weeks and that it was serious, not simply spitting ideas. The other person, who also characterized him as it would be, did not say when they had spoken, except that it was since Hegseth became Secretary of Defense in January. The two sources, together with others in this article, were granted anonymity to speak frankly.
The discussions focused on what would be needed to run. A person said he discussed the eligibility requirements to run for the governor of Tennessee and the chances of winning. The other person said they talked to Hegseth about the realities of a campaign.
People who have talked to Hegesh said that he has specifically mentioned a possible campaign for governor in Tennessee, where he lives. The State has an open race for the governor next year, although there are eligibility requirements for candidates that Hegseth may not comply.
Ultimately, both sources said, it was not clear after their conversations with Hegseth if he would make the leap. But both said he contemplated it.
Parnell said in the statement: “The false news that NBC is so desperate for the attention they buy around an invented story … again. There are only two options: o The” sources “are imaginary or these reporters are being punkes.
Others in the Health orbit said they didn’t plan to launch a campaign. A person who spoke with the secretary last week asked him about the speculation that he was looking for a ramp outside the ramp of being a secretary of defense, as running for a political position in Tennessee. This person said that Hegseth was “very, very clear” that he was not going to run and denied even considering it. The idea, said this person, is “totally out of the table.”
And when asked, a former Trump advisor familiar with political discussions about Hegseth said he will not apply for a position in Tennessee.
Hegseth, former officer of the National Guard of the Army and presenter of Fox News, has campaigned for a political position before. He was running for the United States Senate in his native state, Minnesota, in 2012 and retired after he could not win the nomination of the Republican Party. Minnesota also has an open seat in the Senate in 2026.
Hegesh’s political considerations occur after the first six months somewhat difficult as Secretary of Defense.
During his confirmation process, the accusations arose around his treatment of his second wife, bad financial management, inappropriate sexual behavior and alcohol consumption, all of which he denied vehemently.
Since its confirmation, Hegseth has faced controversy about the abrupt layoffs of his best staff, accusations of chaos in the pentagon and questions about his management of confidential military plans after sharing information about a military operation in Yemen in an unusual group chat on signal. The report of a Pentagon General Inspector on the signal chat, including the classification of the information that Hegseth shared, could be published as soon as next month.
Hegesh also suspended the aid to Ukraine three times, but the White House reversed those decisions, NBC News reported.
Trump has publicly said that he maintains confidence in Hegseth, although in private he has sometimes expressed frustrations with him, NBC News reported.
Political recently reported that Trump and his internal circle support Hegseth. The New York Times also reported on Saturday that Hegseth continues to collide with the main generals of the military about their staff and the promotion options and what are considered partisan priorities.
If Hegseth declared his candidacy for office, Trump has several replacement options, at least temporarily. They include the Secretary of the Army Dan Driscoll, a close friend of Vice President JD Vance, or the Pentagon Policies Chief, Elbridge Colby, according to four people familiar with the matter. Both were confirmed by the Senate for their current works and could serve as Secretary of Interim Defense for a period without another confirmation hearing.
Hegseth could face eligibility requirements if he wants to run for a position in Tennessee.
Tennessee’s law says that governor candidates must have lived in the state for seven years before the elections. Hegesh moved to the state about three years ago; Public records show that their name is linked to a suburban direction by Nashville that is last sold in mid -2022.
The statutes of the Tennessee Republican Party also have a series of requirements for Republican primary candidates, even having voted in three of the last four most recent state Republican elections in which the candidate is eligible to vote. There have been republican primaries throughout the state in Tennessee in 2022 and 2024.
These statutes have blocked other candidates to seek a position in the past, even in 2022, when the State Republican party withdrew Morgan Ortagus backed by Trump, a former spokesman for the State Department, of the primary vote of the Congress after the State recently moved to the State.
Hegseth is likely to face challenges within his own party if he decided to run for governor.
Republican representative John Rose is postulated and $ 5 million has been lent to strengthen his campaign. Senator Marsha Blackburn has also considered a campaign for the governor for a long time. Blackburn, the main senator of Tennessee, has served in public positions for more than 25 years and has a considerable influence between the State Republican Party.
A source familiar with Blackburn’s plans said he intends to announce his next steps in August.
If Blackburn decides to run and she won, she would have to vacate her seat in the Senate in 2027 and name a successor to a special choice. That could provide another political option for Hegseth in his native state. Tennessee requires candidates for the Senate to have lived in the state for at least three years.
Scott Golden, president of the Tennessee Republican Party, said he has not talked to Trump about a possible Hegseth career.
“No one has called to talk about this as a reality,” Golden said, adding: “I don’t know where it comes from, and maybe it is real.”
Golden said that the last time he talked to Hegseth was the night of the elections last year. He was the last in the White House in April, he said, for a tour.
“At this time, it is simply not something we are thinking about,” Golden said.
Another republican agent in Tennessee was skeptical that Hegseth is running for office was well developed or far away, saying that they had not heard anything about it.
Blackburn is close to Glenn Jacobs, the Republican mayor of Knox County and a former professional fighter, and was able to name him for his seat in the Senate, according to a person familiar with the situation. This person said Blackburn has had no conversation with Hegseth about an appointment.
A person close to Blackburn said it was premature to discuss who would choose as his successor.
“There has never been a conversation of anyone appointed,” said this person, and added that Blackburn has not talked to anyone, including Hegseth, about his potentially postulated for a position in Tennessee.
“I know they speak,” said the person, “but never about this.”
