US President Donald Trump has been asking his advisers and other people close to him whether Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth should continue in his job after Republicans suffered major losses in Tuesday’s midterm elections, CBS News reported, citing multiple sources familiar with the matter.
The source suggested that DeSantis could complete the Senate confirmation process during the lame-duck period, which is the time between an election and the start of the newly elected Congress. Under this proposed arrangement, DeSantis could take over as defense secretary after his term as Florida governor ends on January 5.
This would allow him to move from the governor’s office to the Pentagon, according to the source cited by CBS News.
She also praised the US military operations in Iran and Venezuela, as noted by CBS News.
Responding to reports about Hegseth’s possible removal, White House spokeswoman Anna Kelly said that Trump continues to have full confidence in the defense secretary. In a statement, Kelly said Trump “has full confidence in Secretary Hegseth. Kelly further defended Hegseth’s work at the Pentagon, praising his efforts to reverse what she described as the Biden administration Pentagon’s focus on “DEI and woke ideology.”
Because democrats are now expected to hold strong majorities in both chambers of Congress, the possibility of impeachment proceedings against Hegseth could increase. DeSantis is a Republican and could be considered for the defence secretary’s position if Trump decides to replace Hegseth.
Meanwhile, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis is being discussed as a possible replacement for Hegseth, one source told CBS News.
