Trump contemplating changing Hegseth with DeSantis for protection secretary submit, sources say

President-elect Donald Trump is contemplating deciding on Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis as his decide for protection secretary to doubtlessly substitute embattled Fox Information host Pete Hegseth, three sources conversant in the transition instructed CBS Information Tuesday night time. 

This comes after Trump and DeSantis attended a memorial for fallen legislation enforcement officers Tuesday in Florida. 

The Wall Road Journal was first to report this story. 

A spokesperson for DeSantis had no remark when reached by CBS Information. A spokesperson for Trump additionally declined to say whether or not DeSantis was into consideration. 

This comes as Hegseth, who has been assembly with Senate Republicans on Capitol Hill this week to attempt to construct help forward of his affirmation hearings, has confronted a spherical of detrimental tales involving allegations of sexual misconduct, monetary mismanagement at veterans’ charities, repeated intoxication and infidelity. 

A minimum of 4 Republican senators would probably withhold help for Hegseth if a vote had been held right now, two sources near the state of affairs instructed CBS Information.  

“A few of these articles are very disturbing. He clearly has an opportunity to defend himself right here, however some of these things is, it is going to be troublesome,” Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina instructed reporters Tuesday. “Time will inform.” 

Republican Sen. John Kennedy of Louisiana, who famous he has additionally learn the reporting and is conscious of the allegations, stated Hegseth must deal with them. 

“I need to know if they’re true and I need to hear his facet of the story and he’s going to have to handle them,” he stated Tuesday, including that he wasn’t certain if Hegseth’s nomination would face headwinds.

On Monday, the New Yorker reported that earlier than he grew to become a full-time Fox Information host, Hegseth was compelled to step down from two nonprofit advocacy teams — Veterans for Freedom and Involved Veterans for America — amid complaints about his alleged conduct that included repeatedly being intoxicated whereas on the job, main a hostile work atmosphere and mismanaging the charities’ funds. CBS Information reported that Jessie Jane Duff, a Marine veteran who served as considered one of Trump’s 2024 marketing campaign government administrators, was amongst those that pushed to have him ousted from Involved Veterans for America in 2016.

A lawyer for Hegseth has denied the allegations. 

DeSantis ran unsuccessfully for the Republican presidential nomination in opposition to Trump earlier than dropping his bid in January following disappointing showings within the Iowa and New Hampshire primaries. He endorsed Trump on the time regardless of their hostile campaigns. In April, the two males privately at a golf membership in Florida on the request of DeSantis.  

In line with a Trump senior adviser, donors and advisers to each Trump and DeSantis have been urging a détente between the 2 in what they imagine is the perfect pursuits of the Republican Get together. 

DeSantis was commissioned into the U.S. Navy as JAG officer whereas attending Harvard Legislation College. He later served in Iraq, for which he was awarded a Bronze Star.