Ron DeSantis could offer Trump a KEY position in exchange for replacing Pete Hegseth as Defense chief
Donald Trump may have mastered the art of the deal again, with rumors that Ron DeSantis will replace Pete Hegseth as Defense Secretary in exchange for daughter-in-law Lara getting Florida’s open Senate seat.
Reports suggest the relationship between the friends turned enemies has undergone a ‘remarkable turnaround’ as the president-elect continues advanced talks to make the Florida governor his new nominee to run the Pentagon.
The Florida governor and Trump have reportedly had one-on-one discussions about the move.
A GOP source told The Bulwark: ‘These discussions are real. It’s serious. I can’t say it’s definitely going to happen, but the governor is receptive and Trump is serious, too.’
DailyMail.com has reached out to the Trump-Vance transition team for comment.
It would be another turn in the long-running intertwining of the political fortunes for Trump and DeSantis – who ran against Trump in the Republican Primary before dropping out.
Trump has reportedly been willing to call for a fresh start between the two biggest stars of American conservatism.
Another aspect of these newfound talks: DeSantis’ task ahead of replacing one of Florida’s two sitting US Senators, as Marco Rubio is nominated for Secretary of State.
Donald Trump’s relationship with Ron DeSantis has undergone a ‘remarkable turnaround’ as the president-elect continues advanced talks to make the Florida governor his new nominee for Secretary of Defense
DeSantis has reportedly been under consideration in an 11th hour move to flip out the original, controversial nominee Pete Hegseth
A Republican insider claims that DeSantis running the Pentagon could be tied to Trump’s daughter-in-law and RNC co-chair Lara Trump being appointed.
‘Initially, Lara Trump was not part of all of this. But there’s no way it could have been avoided.’
The governor, who was on the original shortlist for the job, likely shares the values of Hegseth, who has called to rid the military of so-called ‘woke’ policies.
A DeSantis ally suggested the governor will be unconcerned with media perceptions and just get the job done for Trump.
‘He needs don’t-give-a-fuck honey badger to go in there and root out waste and the gov is the OG honey badger.’
Another source suggested that the discussions with DeSantis are a sign that Hegseth’s on thin ice, despite a media tour in an attempt to improve things.
‘I’m not sure what Pete is going to say, but right now he looks like a goner. Trump talking to DeSantis while this is all going on is a sure sign that Trump doesn’t think Pete is gonna make it.’
The choice of former Fox News host Hegseth to lead the Defense Department is battling a tricky confirmation after past allegations of sexual misconduct and excessive drinking resurfaced.
A Republican insider claims that DeSantis running the Pentagon could be tied to Trump’s daughter-in-law and RNC co-chair Lara Trump being appointed
Earlier Tuesday, Hegseth vowed not to drink if he is confirmed to the Pentagon’s top job after a deluge of negative stories highlighting his consumption.
‘This is the biggest deployment of my life, and there won’t be a drop of alcohol on my lips while I’m doing it,’ Hegseth said Wednesday on The Megyn Kelly Show.
His promise comes as lawmakers are skeptical of his qualifications to lead the Pentagon – the nation’s largest employer with over 2 million under its purview and an $800 billion budget.
The confirmation has become more difficult as a steady stream of negative reports have come out highlighting his alleged binge drinking and and questionable behavior around women.
Hegseth, 44, has also been accused of sexual assault and getting too intoxicated while on the job to the point of being forced out of a leadership role for a veterans group.
Another recent NBC News report claims 10 current and former Fox News staffers said they were concerned about his drinking and could smell alcohol on him ‘as recently as last month.’
Though many of the reports cite anonymous sources, something Republicans are quick to point out, they have added additional claims to the pile of materials the Senate must mull through ahead of Hegseth’s confirmation.
Hegseth dove further into his drinking habits on Megyn Kelly’s podcast, who is also a fellow former Fox host.
Pete Hegseth went on The Megyn Kelly Show on Wednesday to again defend himself against a slew of damning reports about him – and admitted there are ‘kernels of truth’ in some of the stories. He also explained that he paid a woman accusing him of rape because he was worried about it harming his career and wife
‘What do guys do when they come back from war oftentimes? Have some beers. How do you deal with the demons you see on the battlefield? Sometimes it’s with a bottle,’ he expressed.
‘Unfortunately, tragically, for too many guys it’s with the bottle and then it’s depression and then, even worse, suicide.’
‘I found my chapters of purpose that pulled me out of that,’ he said.
‘I’m a very different person than I was 10 years ago,’ Hegseth insisted, pointing to his wife Jennifer and his Christian faith.
Trump is seemingly standing by his pick, and Hegseth said that he has recently talked to him.
‘He supports me. We talked,’ Hegseth said of his conversation with Trump. ‘He said, you go meet those senators and I’ve got your back.’
The father-of-seven also recalled to Kelly how Trump said: ‘Pete, I’ve got your back. It’s a fight, they’re coming after you. Get after it.’
But as the headwinds facing Hegseth seem to be their strongest, some senators are talking about other possible candidates for the top Pentagon job, like DeSantis.
A DeSantis ally suggested the governor will be unconcerned with media perceptions and just get the job done for Trump
Meanwhile, many in the Senate are awaiting their own meetings with Hegseth to see if he can handle the full confirmation process.
The former Fox News host met early Wednesday morning with Sen. Roger Wicker, R-Miss., who next Congress will hold the influential role of Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman, the job tasked with overseeing his nomination.
Their session was just one of several scheduled for this week and next as Hegseth makes his rounds with the 53 Republicans whose support he is seeking. He can only afford to lose three Republican votes.
Wicker indicated that the meeting went well, though he stopped short of sharing the details of their conversation.
‘I don’t see any obstacles that can’t be overcome,’ Wicker said about Hegseth’s odds of getting confirmed, he also added that the former TV host should stay in the fight.
Wicker did say, though, that Hegseth would pledge to stop drinking if he is confirmed, which the senator said was ‘a good idea.’
The allegations about Hegseth’s drinking a treatment of women seemed to be of particular interest among the female lawmakers.
‘I would like to hear from him about many of the allegations that you all have been reporting,’ Alaska Republican Sen. Lisa Murkowski said of Hegseth.
She is the longest tenured Senate Republican woman and has a reputation of being a moderate, meaning the former Fox News host could face a tough battle swaying her.
‘I have a meeting with Pete Hegseth on my schedule for next week to exploring his qualifications, his vision for the department and these new allegations against him,’ Wyoming Sen. Cynthia Lummis similarly said.
