U.S. Defense Secretary Hegseth Refutes 2028 Presidential Aspirations, Reinforces Pentagon Priorities
US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth denied a report that he told close friends that he was considering a 2028 presidential run in a post on X/Twitter on Friday night.
The report, published by NBC on Friday, say Hegseth sees himself as appealing to US President Donald Trump’s MAGA voter base through similar attributes to the president, such as being defiant andwilling to talk on social issues on the campaign trail.
Hegseth called the report “100% false,” adding that his “only job” was making the Department of Defense great.
Earlier in the month, Hegseth caught attention by attending the Iowa State Fair while campaigning for a Republican congressman there, which NBC reporter Courtney Kube described as “a place where candidates go and showcase themselves in advance of a big run.”
The Iowa State Fair was the second campaign event Hegseth attended this year, months after attending an event in Kentucky to support Trump-endorsed Representative candidate Ed Gallrein over Representative Thomas Massie.
In both cases, he was received well. He was received like a rock star.
