On July 29, NBC reported that Hegseth has "privately discussed the idea of running for political office." While the Pentagon’s chief spokesman Sean Parnell denied any idea of Hegseth vying for the governorship in Tennessee, the Secretary of Defense could run for office should he choose to leave his current post.

Is Pete Hegseth planning to leave Pentagon? The defense secretary, who is facing string of controversies, has talked privately about running a campaign in Tennessee, a report claimed. Pentagon has reacted to the rumours and argued that the defense secretary’s focus ‘remains solely on serving under President Donald Trump' and called the report 'fake'.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has privately discussed the idea of running for political office next year in Tennessee, according to two people who have spoken directly with him about it.