NEW: Hegseth Floats Run For Office In 2026

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has been quietly floating the possibility of running for office in his home state of Tennessee next year, according to insiders who have heard talk of his plans.

Two sources with direct knowledge say Hegseth, 45, has aspirations far beyond the Pentagon, where he has served as one of the most visible figures in the second Trump administration. His position — combined with a bruising battle for U.S. Senate confirmation — has afforded Hegseth the political capital he needs to jump ship ahead of 2026 and raise the funds necessary to win elected office, he has confided to allies.

If Hegseth does decide to run, it would be one of the largest shake-ups to hit President Donald Trump’s cabinet since he took office. His inner circle was last destabilized by the dramatic exit of Elon Musk, his former cost-cutting advisor and founder of the U.S. Department of Government Efficiency.

Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell did not address the rumors, saying only in a statement, “Hegseth’s focus remains solely on serving under President Trump.”

One individual who spoke directly with Hegseth in the past three weeks characterized his tone as more serious than spitballing about the idea of running for office. Another source wouldn’t say when they had spoken with Hegseth other than to confirm it had been since he became defense secretary in January.

The office that appears to draw the most fascination from Hegseth is governor, according to one converser who said they discussed eligibility requirements. If he chooses to run, Hegseth would need to resign before declaring his intention, as the Pentagon prohibits any employees from seeking elected office.

Another person said they spoke with Hegseth about the realities of campaigning and the tenacity it would take for him to win his first race, NBC News reported.

Ultimately, both individuals said it was unclear whether Hegseth would choose to make the move.

Parnell dismissed the outlet’s reporting in a statement:

“Fake news NBC is so desperate for attention, they are shopping around a made up story… again. Only two options exist: either the ‘sources’ are imaginary or these reporters are getting punked. Secretary Hegseth’s focus remains solely on serving under President Trump and advancing the America First mission at the Department of Defense,” he said.

A third source, who is not in Hegseth’s immediate orbit, dismissed the idea that he was preparing to leave his role as defense secretary anytime soon, telling NBC it was “totally off the table” and saying Hegseth had been “very, very clear” about his intention to stay in the administration.

A longtime Trump advisor familiar with political maneuverings within the administration echoed the upper echelon’s belief that Hegseth would stay in place through the midterms.