Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Friday rejected an NBC News report claiming he has discussed a potential 2028 White House run with close associates.
In a post on X, Hegseth pushed back, saying he told NBC he wasn’t running “but they just lie w/ anonymous ‘sources.’” He called the report “100% false.”
The comment was in response to NBC’s Friday report that claimed he discussed a potential presidential campaign with close friends and associates, citing his recent appearance at the Iowa State Fair as evidence. Hegseth was there campaigning for Rep. Zach Nunn (R-Iowa).
A Crowded GOP Field Taking Shape
No major Republican has formally declared a 2028 campaign. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) has openly acknowledged that he wants to be president, while Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio remain among the leading Republican prospects.
Hegseth has previous experience running for office. The former Fox News host unsuccessfully ran for a U.S. Senate seat in Minnesota in 2012 but withdrew from the Republican primary after the state party convention. He joined Fox News as a contributor in 2014, building a national profile as a conservative commentator.
In 2024, President Donald Trump nominated him to lead the Department of Defense, and he has served as secretary since early 2025.
Since taking over the Pentagon, Hegseth has moved swiftly to consolidate authority among political appointees. He ousted Navy Secretary John Phelan and Army Chief of Staff Gen. Randy George earlier this year, reshaping the department’s leadership ranks.
The reshuffling is reportedly continuing, with Hegseth considering his chief spokesperson, Sean Parnell, to replace Army Secretary Dan Driscoll, who is expected to leave his position.
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