Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is weighing his options for a path out of Donald Trump’s administration as controversies continue to plague his short stint as the head of the United States Armed Forces, NBC News reported.
According to sources close to Hegseth who spoke on the condition of anonymity, Hegseth has been having “serious” discussions over potential exit strategies, including a run for Tennessee governor.
“One of the people said their discussion with Hegseth happened within the past three weeks and that it was serious, not simply spitballing ideas,” NBC News reported.
“The discussions centered on what it would take to run. One person said they discussed the eligibility requirements to run for governor of Tennessee and Hegseth’s chances of winning. The other person said they talked with Hegseth about the realities of a campaign.”
While Hegseth has only served as defense secretary since January, his short tenure at the White House has been plagued with controversies, many of them self-inflicted.
Between March and April, Hegseth shared confidential military plans, including an impending airstrike on Yemen, on the encrypted messaging app Signal, and in a group chat in which he mistakenly included a journalist. The subsequent fallout included calls for Hegseth’s removal.
Hegseth was also under fire for using polygraph tests on staff to oust leakers, and practice he reportedly stopped at the direction of the White House. And personally controversies, including allegations of a past sexual assault and alcohol abuse have resurfaced amid his brief tenure as well.
The Pentagon, however, has outright denied that Hegseth was considering leaving the White House, calling the claims a “made up story.”
“Fake news NBC is so desperate for attention, they are shopping around a made up story… again,” said Sean Parnell, Pentagon spokesperson, in a statement to NBC News.
“Only two options exist: either the ‘sources’ are imaginary or these reporters are getting punked. Secretary Hegseth’s focus remains solely on serving under President Trump and advancing the America First mission at the Department of Defense.”