Daniel Wolfram
In the middle of an ongoing war in the Middle East, security leaks, and heavy turmoil within his own department, Pete Hegseth wants to be the next President of the United States of America.
Pete Hegseth seems to be in the news constantly.
There was a big story about Hegseth hiring his wife to be his de facto producer. Then there were all the leaks of feuding and firing high-ranking military members.
This has not scared the Defense Secretary away from trying to ascend to the highest office in 2028, although he denies it vehemently.
Potential presidential bid
NBC News has reports that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has quietly discussed a potential 2028 White House run with friends and associates.
His recent trip to Iowa to campaign for Republicans before the midterm election raised plenty of eyebrows across the political spectrum. Stopping by the state fair and campaigning for Representative Zach Nunn looked like a classic move for any politician trying to climb the political ladder to higher office.
Hegseth was quick to deny the report. He took to social media to call the report “100% false.” He added a parting shot at the news network, “We told NBC that, but they just lie w/ anonymous ‘sources.'”
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A steep hill to climb
Clearing a path to the nomination for president in 2028 will not be easy. Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio are currently seen as the front-runners to potentially replace Donald Trump in two years’ time.
In a recent Conservative Political Action Conference straw poll, Vance captured 53 percent of the vote while Rubio took 35 percent. Hegseth drew just one percent.
Even so, some conservative leaders welcome the idea of a fresh contender. American Conservative Union Chairman Matt Schlapp voiced support for the potential run.
“Hegseth should consider running for president,” Schlapp said. “He’s an impressive guy and has a tremendous amount of energy.”
Tricky record
A campaign would also force Hegseth to defend a contentious record at the Pentagon. He currently oversees the military campaign in Iran, a conflict backed by only 31 percent of Americans according to a Reuters poll.
His policy choices at home and abroad have drawn sharp opposition. He is also in the midst of purging the military with over two dozen officials and officers either being fired or resigning in protest over Hegseth’s presumed leadership.
Security leaks and controversial statements add further hurdles. It feels like ages ago when he inadvertently invited a reporter to a classified unencrypted group chat before the US military conducted strikes in Yemen. There are also allegations of misuse of alcohol and drug paraphernalia.
Trump is not sold on Hegseth as president
While Hegseth may only poll at one percent right now, the most important thing is to get the endorsement of Donald Trump.
He does not seem too convinced that Pete Hegseth running for president is a good idea. When asked about the possibility, Trump sounded very noncommittal.
“I think he’s doing a fantastic job, but it’s very early to talk about that,” Trump said in regard to the NBC report. “We have to get through the midterms first […] but right now all he loves and all he cares about is the military and taking care of the military,” Trump added.
