Trump Considers Replacing Defense Secretary Nominee... DeSantis in the Running

Pete Hegseth Accused of Sexual Misconduct
"DeSantis, the 'Little Trump,' Considered as Successor"

Reports have emerged that President-elect Donald Trump is considering replacing Pete Hegseth, the nominee for Secretary of Defense who has been embroiled in a sexual misconduct controversy.

The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported on the 3rd (local time), citing sources, that Trump is reviewing a plan to have Hegseth resign and appoint Florida Governor Ron DeSantis as his successor. If Hegseth actually steps down, he would be the third nominee to withdraw, following former Congressman Matt Gaetz, who dropped out of the Attorney General nomination, and Chad Chronister, Hillsborough County Sheriff in Florida, who withdrew from the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) director nomination.

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Hegseth, a former Fox News anchor, is accused of sexually assaulting a woman he met at a 2017 Republican women’s event and paying her a large sum of money under the condition of confidentiality. Hegseth’s lawyer claims the encounter was consensual, not assault, but controversy continues after The New York Times (NYT) recently reported that Hegseth’s mother sent an email in 2018 reprimanding her son’s behavior.

WSJ conveyed the atmosphere, stating, "Among Trump’s close associates, there is a growing consensus that Hegseth will not withstand further investigation," and "The Trump transition team views the next 48 hours as critical to his fate." Previously, former Congressman Gaetz voluntarily withdrew amid growing expectations that he would not pass the Senate confirmation due to allegations including solicitation of a minor.

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Governor DeSantis, mentioned as an alternative to Hegseth, was once so close to Trump that he was called the "Little Trump." Although DeSantis once opposed Trump during the Republican presidential primary, he soon joined Trump’s camp. It is reported that DeSantis had been considered as a candidate for Secretary of Defense since the Trump transition team began reviewing nominees shortly after the election.

Sources also mentioned Elbridge Colby, former Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Strategy and Force Development, as a potential candidate to fill Hegseth’s vacancy. Colby, who was once on the shortlist for National Security Advisor, is a supporter of Trump’s America First policy. In July, at an event hosted by the Heritage Foundation think tank, he stated, "South Korea prioritizes its own interests, and India and Poland also prioritize their own interests," adding, "Why should we (the United States) be any different?"