Pete Hegseth Has Discussed Running For Political Office In Tennessee, Sources Say

WASHINGTON — Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has privately discussed nan thought of moving for governmental agency adjacent twelvemonth successful Tennessee, according to 2 group who person spoken straight pinch him astir it.

If Hegseth were to travel done connected those discussions, it would magnitude to a awesome activity shake-up astatine nan section that oversees nan American subject and millions of national employees. The Defense Department bars civilian employees from moving for governmental office, meaning Hegseth would person to resign to do so.

In a statement, Sean Parnell, nan Pentagon’s main spokesman, said, “Hegseth’s attraction remains solely connected serving nether President Trump.”

One of nan group said their chat pinch Hegseth happened wrong nan past 3 weeks and that it was serious, not simply spitballing ideas. The different person, who besides characterized it arsenic serious, would not opportunity erstwhile they had spoken — isolated from that it was since Hegseth became defense caput successful January. The 2 sources, on pinch others successful this article, were granted anonymity to speak candidly.

The discussions centered astir what it would return to run. One personification said they discussed nan eligibility requirements to tally for politician of Tennessee and Hegseth’s chances of winning. The different personification said they talked pinch Hegseth astir nan realities of a campaign.

The group who person spoken pinch Hegseth said he has specifically mentioned a imaginable gubernatorial run successful Tennessee, wherever Hegseth lives. The authorities has an unfastened title for politician adjacent year, though location are eligibility requirements for candidates that Hegseth mightiness not meet.

Ultimately, some sources said it was unclear aft their conversations pinch Hegseth whether he would return nan leap. But they some said he has contemplated it.

“Fake news NBC is truthful hopeless for attention, they are shopping astir a made up story… again. Only 2 options exist: either nan ‘sources’ are imaginary aliases these reporters are getting punked. Secretary Hegseth’s attraction remains solely connected serving nether President Trump and advancing nan America First ngo astatine nan Department of Defense,” Parnell said successful nan statement.

Others successful Hegseth’s orbit said he doesn’t scheme to motorboat a campaign. One personification who said pinch nan caput past week asked him astir speculation that he was looking for an off-ramp from being defense secretary, specified arsenic moving for governmental agency successful Tennessee. This personification said Hegseth was “very, very clear” that he was not going to tally and denied moreover considering it. The idea, this personification said, is “totally disconnected nan table.”

And erstwhile asked, a longtime Trump advisor acquainted pinch governmental discussions astir Hegseth said he will not tally for agency successful Tennessee.

Hegseth has campaigned for governmental agency before. A erstwhile Army National Guard serviceman and Fox News host, he ran for nan U.S. Senate successful his location authorities of Minnesota successful 2012 and withdrew aft failing to triumph nan GOP nomination. Minnesota besides has an unfastened Senate spot successful 2026.

Hegseth’s governmental considerations travel aft a somewhat rocky first six months arsenic defense secretary.

During his confirmation process, allegations surfaced astir his curen of his 2nd wife, financial mismanagement, sexual misconduct and alcohol consumption — each of which Hegseth vehemently denied.

Since his confirmation, Hegseth has faced contention complete nan abrupt firings of his apical staff, accusations of chaos astatine nan Pentagon and questions astir his handling of delicate subject plans aft he shared accusation astir a subject cognition successful Yemen connected an unsecured group chat connected Signal. A Pentagon inspector wide study connected nan Signal chat, including nan classification of nan accusation Hegseth shared, could beryllium released arsenic early arsenic adjacent month.

Hegseth besides suspended assistance to Ukraine 3 times, but those decisions were reversed by nan White House, NBC News reported.

Trump has said publically that he maintains assurance successful Hegseth, though privately he has astatine times expressed frustrations pinch him, NBC News has reported.

Politico precocious reported that Trump and his soul circle guidelines by Hegseth. The New York Times besides reported connected Saturday that Hegseth continues to clash pinch nan military’s apical generals complete his unit and promotion choices and what are seen arsenic partisan priorities.

If Hegseth were to state his candidacy for office, Trump has respective replacement options, astatine slightest temporarily. These see Army Secretary Dan Driscoll, a adjacent friend of Vice President JD Vance’s, aliases nan Pentagon’s argumentation chief, Elbridge Colby, according to 4 group acquainted pinch nan matter. Both were confirmed by nan Senate for their existent jobs and could service arsenic acting caput of defense for a play of time without different confirmation hearing.

Hegseth could look eligibility requirements if he wants to tally for agency successful Tennessee.

Tennessee law says gubernatorial candidates must person lived successful nan authorities for 7 years anterior to nan election. Hegseth moved to nan state astir 3 years ago; nationalist records show that Hegseth’s sanction is linked to a suburban Nashville reside past sold successful nan mediate of 2022.

Tennessee Republican Party bylaws besides person a bid of requirements for Republican superior candidates, including having voted successful 3 of nan past 4 astir caller statewide Republican superior elections successful which nan campaigner is eligible to vote. There person been statewide Republican primaries successful Tennessee successful 2022 and 2024.

Those bylaws person blocked different candidates from seeking agency successful nan past, including successful 2022, erstwhile nan authorities GOP removed Trump-backed Morgan Ortagus, a erstwhile State Department spokeswoman, from nan legislature superior ballot aft she had precocious moved to nan state.

Hegseth would apt look challenges from wrong his ain statement if he decided to tally for governor.

Republican Rep. John Rose is moving and has loaned himself $5 cardinal to bolster his campaign. Sen. Marsha Blackburn besides has agelong considered a run for governor. Tennessee’s elder U.S. senator, Blackburn has served successful nationalist agency for much than 25 years and holds sizeable sway among nan state’s GOP.

A root acquainted pinch Blackburn’s plans said she intends to denote her adjacent steps successful August.

If Blackburn does determine to run, and wins, she’d person to vacate her Senate spot successful 2027 and name a successor until a typical election. That could supply different governmental action for Hegseth successful his location state. Tennessee requires candidates for nan Senate to person lived successful nan authorities for astatine slightest 3 years.

Scott Golden, president of nan Tennessee Republican Party, said he has not spoken pinch Trump astir a imaginable Hegseth run.

“Nobody has called to talk astir this arsenic a reality,” Golden said, adding, “I don’t cognize wherever it’s coming from, and possibly it will beryllium real.”

Golden said nan past clip he said pinch Hegseth was connected predetermination nighttime past year. He was past astatine nan White House successful April, he said, for a tour.

“Right now, it’s conscionable not thing that we’re moreover reasoning about,” Golden said.

Another Republican operative successful Tennessee was skeptical that Hegseth’s moving for agency was good developed aliases acold along, saying they hadn’t heard thing astir it.

Blackburn is adjacent pinch Glenn Jacobs, nan Republican politician of Knox County and a erstwhile master wrestler, and she would perchance name him to her Senate seat, according to a personification acquainted pinch nan situation. This personification said Blackburn hasn’t had immoderate conversations pinch Hegseth astir an appointment.

A personification adjacent to Blackburn said it was premature to talk who she would take arsenic her successor.

“There has ne'er been a speech of anyone being appointed,” this personification said, adding that Blackburn has besides not spoken pinch anyone, including Hegseth, astir him perchance moving for agency successful Tennessee.

“I cognize they talk,” nan personification said, “but ne'er astir this.”