Hegseth mulls a "run for office," to fill the void of candidates who are alcoholics, rage-o-holics, and sexual abusers. [View all]
Pete Hegseth Has Had 'Serious' Talks About A Run For Office Far From Pentagon: Report
The Pentagon vigorously disputed NBC News' article as a "made up story."
By Ron Dicker
Jul 30, 2025, 07:55 AM EDT
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth reportedly has had serious discussions about running for governor in Tennessee, and he would have to surrender his Cabinet gig to do so.
NBC News on Tuesday cited two people who spoke with the beleaguered military leader about the possibility. One said they talked about eligibility standards and Hegseths chances of winning; the other said they covered the realities of a campaign.
Both said it was unclear to them whether he would actually give it a go. Civilian employees of the Defense Department are not allowed to run for office, so Hegseth would have to resign before entering any race.
The Pentagon pushed back hard at the report, which included another source saying Hegseth indicated that any exit was off the table.