Hegseth not even under consideration for Senate role as his possible administration escape hatch closes: report

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is not being weighed for the Tennessee Senate seat that will open in January, closing off one possible way out of the Trump administration while his position looks shaky. The Washington Post reports that Governor-elect Marsha Blackburn, who will name her own Senate successor after she resigns to take office, dismissed the idea as "Washington D.C. spin." A source close to Blackburn said her team is concentrating on the transition. Hegseth, according to a person close to him, has no interest in the job, and President Donald Trump has not raised it with Blackburn, according to The Independent.

Hegseth faces heavy pressure over his part in pushing the war in Iran, which hurt Republicans in the midterms and cost them control of Congress. Democrats have floated impeachment once they take over the House. Outgoing Kentucky Republican Rep. Thomas Massie has also threatened to impeach unless Hegseth resigns.

Hegseth answered with a video vowing not to back down, and Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said Hegseth is fully committed to serving through the end of Trump's term. Trump told ABC News he intends to keep him, saying he is doing a very good job, though he admitted fielding calls about the secretary.

Summarized by PolitiKool from The Independent’s reporting. Read the full story at The Independent →