President Trump on Wednesday quashed rumors that he was weighing a replacement for Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, instead predicting the Pentagon chief would be a formidable contender for Tennessee's open Senate seat.
“No, I think he’s doing a very good job,” Trump told reporters when asked about Hegseth’s future following the Republican Party’s sweeping losses in Tuesday’s midterms, which handed control of the House, Senate, and several governorships to Democrats.
Reports from CBS News indicated Trump had been privately consulting advisers about whether to keep Hegseth in his Cabinet post after the election setback. But the president’s public remarks appeared to close the door on any immediate change.
Hegseth, a former Army National Guard major and combat veteran, has reportedly expressed interest in the Senate seat being vacated by Senator Marsha Blackburn, who won her gubernatorial race on Tuesday. The Hill previously reported that Hegseth has been quietly campaigning for the position.
“I think he’s doing a very good job, and I actually think he’d be very popular if he did that. But I haven’t heard that at all,” Trump said, responding to a question about whether he would support Hegseth’s bid for Blackburn’s seat.
Tennessee political operatives suggest Hegseth would enter the race with significant clout. “I certainly think Pete Hegseth is going to be the guy that is going to have the most weight in the room,” said Monty Lankford, a Tennessee GOP operative. “Being the Secretary of War and having done what he’s done, and I’m confident [he would be] getting the endorsement of the president, I would think.”
Despite Trump’s endorsement, questions persist about Hegseth’s longevity at the Pentagon. The Hill reported that even if Hegseth avoids impeachment—a prospect House Democrats are eager to pursue once they regain the majority—his tenure could be short-lived.
Blackburn defeated Democrat Jerri Green in the gubernatorial race, becoming Tennessee’s first female governor. Her Senate seat, which expires in early 2031, has attracted several potential candidates, including Representative Tim Burchett, former Knox County Mayor Glenn Jacobs, and former CoreCivic CEO Damon Hininger.
Representative Chuck Fleischmann, who won reelection in Tennessee’s 3rd District, expressed openness to the Senate seat, telling Tennessee Lookout, “I will be honored to have that.”
As the GOP recalibrates after the midterm drubbing, Hegseth’s potential move to Tennessee could reshape the state’s political landscape. Trump’s endorsement, if it materializes, would likely make him the frontrunner, but the race is still in its early stages.
