Hegseth wants out of Pentagon, eyes run for office

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has privately discussed the possibility of running for political office in Tennessee, according to two people who have spoken directly with him. Both sources, who wished to remain anonymous to speak candidly, characterized the discussions as serious rather than speculative, Knewz.com has learned. One said the conversation took place within the past three weeks, while the other confirmed it occurred sometime after Hegseth became defense secretary in January.

A run for Office

One of the anonymous officials said that the talks centered on eligibility requirements for the Tennessee governor’s race and Hegseth’s potential chances of winning. Tennessee will have an open gubernatorial contest next year, though the state’s laws and Republican Party bylaws present possible hurdles for Hegseth. “If Hegseth were to follow through on the discussions, it would amount to a major leadership shake-up at the department that oversees the American military and millions of federal employees. The Defense Department bars civilian employees from running for political office, meaning Hegseth would have to resign to do so,” reports have pointed out. It has been reported that if Hegseth were to resign to run for office, potential interim replacements include Army Secretary Dan Driscoll and Pentagon policy chief Elbridge Colby, both Senate-confirmed officials who could serve in an acting role. Secondly, under Tennessee law, gubernatorial candidates must have resided in the state for seven years prior to the election. Hegseth, who moved there around three years ago, is linked to a suburban Nashville address purchased in mid-2022. Republican Party rules also require candidates to have voted in three of the last four statewide GOP primaries, a standard that has disqualified other candidates in the past.

Potential rivals

If Hegseth were to run for office, he could face prominent Republican opponents. Representative John Rose has already entered the governor’s race, lending his campaign $5 million. Senator Marsha Blackburn, Tennessee’s senior senator with more than 25 years in public office, has also joined the race. If Blackburn wins and vacates her Senate seat in 2027, she will appoint a temporary replacement until a special election. Tennessee law requires Senate candidates to have lived in the state for at least three years, a threshold Hegseth could meet by then. However, a source close to Blackburn said there have been no discussions with Hegseth about a Senate appointment or his potential candidacy. “There has never been a conversation of anyone being appointed,” the source said. “I know they talk, but never about this.”

A rocky start

Hegseth previously ran for the U.S. Senate in Minnesota in 2012 but withdrew after failing to secure the GOP nomination. His tenure as defense secretary, which began in January, has been marked by controversy. During his confirmation process, he faced allegations of misconduct, financial mismanagement and alcohol abuse — all of which he denied. Since taking office, he has drawn criticism for abrupt staff firings, accusations of disorder at the Pentagon and the sharing of military operation details in Yemen on an unsecured messaging platform. A Pentagon inspector general’s report on the incident could be released as early as next month. Hegseth has also suspended aid to Ukraine three times, with the White House later reversing those decisions. While President Donald Trump has publicly expressed confidence in him, reports indicate occasional private frustration.

Pentagon denial

The Pentagon’s chief spokesman, Sean Parnell, issued a statement dismissing the rumors around Hegseth’s political ambitions. “Fake news NBC is so desperate for attention, they are shopping around a made up story … again. Only two options exist: either the ‘sources’ are imaginary or these reporters are getting punked. Secretary Hegseth’s focus remains solely on serving under President Trump and advancing the America First mission at the Department of Defense,” Parnell said. Scott Golden, chairman of the Tennessee Republican Party, said he has not spoken with Trump or Hegseth about the possibility. “Nobody has called to talk about this as a reality,” he said. “I don’t know where it’s coming from, and maybe it will be real. Right now, it’s just not something that we’re even thinking about.”

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