President Donald Trump has responded to talk that his Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is considering a presidential run in 2028.
“I think he's doing a fantastic job, but it's very early to talk about that,” Trump said Monday when asked if he would support Hegseth in such an event. “We have to get through the midterms first, and I think he's a very good guy.”
Trump went on to suggest “there's a lot of people considering” running that reporters “don’t know about.”
“Right now, all [Hegseth] loves is, and all he cares about is, the military and taking care of the military,” Trump concluded, referencing the Iran war, which surpassed the six-month mark last week.
NBC reported Friday that Hegseth was talking about a possible run for President in 2028 and had told close friends and associates of such plans, citing two sources familiar with the matter.
Hegseth later called the reporting “100% false” and insisted his “only job” is to “make the Department of War great again.”
Hegseth has been under the spotlight in recent months, amid mounting criticism from lawmakers over the duration and cost of the Iran war.
He’s also facing upheaval in his department. Army Secretary Dan Driscoll resigned from his position Monday, following reported disagreements with Hegseth. His departure follows that of other key figures, such as former Army chief of staff Gen. Randy George, who left his position in April, Gen. Christopher Donahue, the former commander for the U.S. Army in Europe and Africa, who left his in June after just 18 months in the job.
Hegseth, meanwhile, is just the latest senior Trump Administration official to be linked with a Presidential bid for 2028.
Trump has shown reluctance in naming his successor, but he has expressed interest in a potential ticket boasting his Vice President J.D. Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
During a White House event in May, Trump raised the question of the Republican nomination. “Who’s it going to be? Is it gonna be J.D. [Vance]? Is it gonna be somebody else? I don’t know,” he said.
Trump proceeded to pit Vance and Rubio against one another, asking the crowd to show their support for who they liked.
“By the way, I do believe that's a dream team, but these are minor details,” the President said, notably stopping short of endorsing either member of his Administration.
“That does not mean you have my endorsement under any circumstance,” he emphasized, adding that he thinks it “sounds like a presidential candidate and vice presidential candidate."
Weeks later, Trump again pointed towards a potential ticket for Vance and Rubio. “They’re both great, I like them both. And I like them together,” he said on the New York Post’s political podcast Pod Force One.
Recent polling suggest that the Vice President and Secretary of State are the frontrunners to lead the Republican ticket. A collection of polls published by the New York Times, looking at the share of support for each candidate in the 15 most recent polls, shows Vance in the lead, with Rubio coming in second.
The most recent poll cited, published by Quantus Insights on Aug. 28, showed Vance held 41% of total support, with Rubio holding 29% and Donald Trump Jr. coming in at 9%.
Nikki Haley, the former South Carolina Governor who launched a failed 2024 presidential bid, and Florida’s Gov. Ron DeSantis were considered as outsiders in the collection of polls.
Trump has repeatedly teased running for an unprecedented third term in 2028—something which the Constitution explicitly prohibits.
When asked about the possibility of a third term, Trump told TIME in April last year: “I'd rather not discuss that now, but as you know, there are some loopholes that have been discussed that are well known.”
His rhetoric gained further traction when the Trump Store started selling "Trump 2028" merchandise.
Trump has since admitted he “probably” won’t pursue a third term, despite his ambitions.
