Trump considers replacing Pete Hegseth with Ron DeSantis as defense secretary

President-elect Donald Trump is considering replacing embattled Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth with Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, according to two sources familiar with the decision-making process.

DeSantis is very much in the running, one source said.

Another told NBC News that Trump and DeSantis spoke directly about the issue.

Trump has spoken to the governor and wants him to do so, a source familiar with the conversation told NBC News Tuesday evening.

NBC News reported Tuesday that Hegseth's nomination is in jeopardy as as many as six Republican senators are reluctant to support him.

The Wall Street Journal first reported Tuesday evening that DeSantis was being considered for the Cabinet post.

DeSantis' office and the Trump transition team did not immediately respond to NBC News' requests for comment.

Other possible contenders for the Pentagon's top job include Sens. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, and Bill Hagerty, R-Tenn., according to two sources familiar with the decision-making process.

Rep. Mike Waltz, Republican of Florida, whom Trump had chosen as White House national security adviser, is also a possible choice to lead the Pentagon, two other sources said.

Ron DeSantis in 2022. Giorgio Viera / AFP via Getty Images file

Senators with reservations about Hegseth have expressed concern over allegations involving him, alcohol use and reports of his treatment of women, including a 2017 sexual assault allegation for for which he was never charged.

Hegseth denied mistreating women and said the meeting with the woman who accused him of assault, in which he later reached an undisclosed agreement, was consensual. He did not respond Tuesday evening when asked about the drinking allegations.

In a message to

Our warriors will never back down, and neither will I, he said.

DeSantis, for his part, challenged Trump for the Republican presidential nomination this 2024 cycle and withdrew from the race in January, just days before the New Hampshire primary.

He immediately supported Trump despite the two feuding throughout the campaign and former President DeSantis' nickname Ron DeSanctimonious. Unlike many of Trump's other picks for his future Cabinet, DeSantis said Trump lost the 2020 election, while others echoed the president-elect's comments that it was stolen.

DeSantis was in the Navy and served during the Iraq War, eventually achieving the rank of lieutenant commander.

Ernst, meanwhile, served in the Army Reserve and the Army National Guard, eventually holding the rank of lieutenant colonel. She also served in the Iraq War.

Hagerty has no military experience. Before joining Congress in 2021, he served as U.S. Ambassador to Japan during the first Trump administration.

Matt Dixon

Matt Dixon is a senior national political reporter for NBC News, based in Florida.

Courtney Kube

Courtney Kube is a correspondent covering national security and the military for NBC News' Investigative Unit.

Rebecca Shabad

Rebecca Shabad is a political reporter for NBC News based in Washington.

Vaughn Hillyard contributed.

What Are The Main Benefits Of Comparing Car Insurance Quotes Online

LOS ANGELES, CA / ACCESSWIRE / June 24, 2020, / Compare-autoinsurance.Org has launched a new blog post that presents the main benefits of comparing multiple car insurance quotes. For more info and free online quotes, please visit https://compare-autoinsurance.Org/the-advantages-of-comparing-prices-with-car-insurance-quotes-online/ The modern society has numerous technological advantages. One important advantage is the speed at which information is sent and received. With the help of the internet, the shopping habits of many persons have drastically changed. The car insurance industry hasn't remained untouched by these changes. On the internet, drivers can compare insurance prices and find out which sellers have the best offers. View photos The advantages of comparing online car insurance quotes are the following: Online quotes can be obtained from anywhere and at any time. Unlike physical insurance agencies, websites don't have a specific schedule and they are available at any time. Drivers that have busy working schedules, can compare quotes from anywhere and at any time, even at midnight. Multiple choices. Almost all insurance providers, no matter if they are well-known brands or just local insurers, have an online presence. Online quotes will allow policyholders the chance to discover multiple insurance companies and check their prices. Drivers are no longer required to get quotes from just a few known insurance companies. Also, local and regional insurers can provide lower insurance rates for the same services. Accurate insurance estimates. Online quotes can only be accurate if the customers provide accurate and real info about their car models and driving history. Lying about past driving incidents can make the price estimates to be lower, but when dealing with an insurance company lying to them is useless. Usually, insurance companies will do research about a potential customer before granting him coverage. Online quotes can be sorted easily. Although drivers are recommended to not choose a policy just based on its price, drivers can easily sort quotes by insurance price. Using brokerage websites will allow drivers to get quotes from multiple insurers, thus making the comparison faster and easier. For additional info, money-saving tips, and free car insurance quotes, visit https://compare-autoinsurance.Org/ Compare-autoinsurance.Org is an online provider of life, home, health, and auto insurance quotes. This website is unique because it does not simply stick to one kind of insurance provider, but brings the clients the best deals from many different online insurance carriers. In this way, clients have access to offers from multiple carriers all in one place: this website. On this site, customers have access to quotes for insurance plans from various agencies, such as local or nationwide agencies, brand names insurance companies, etc. "Online quotes can easily help drivers obtain better car insurance deals. All they have to do is to complete an online form with accurate and real info, then compare prices", said Russell Rabichev, Marketing Director of Internet Marketing Company. CONTACT: Company Name: Internet Marketing CompanyPerson for contact Name: Gurgu CPhone Number: (818) 359-3898Email: cgurgu@internetmarketingcompany.BizWebsite: https://compare-autoinsurance.Org/ SOURCE: Compare-autoinsurance.Org View source version on accesswire.Com:https://www.Accesswire.Com/595055/What-Are-The-Main-Benefits-Of-Comparing-Car-Insurance-Quotes-Online View photos