Pete Hegseth gets fresh odds of winning the presidency in 2028 as defense secretary denies report he’s considering a run
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is facing fresh speculation over his chances of winning the presidency in 2028 — even as he emphatically denies a report that he is considering a White House run.
Pete Hegseth denies he’s running for president
Hegseth dismissed the claim as “100% false” after NBC News reported that he had discussed a potential presidential campaign with close friends and associates.
The defense secretary accused the network of relying on anonymous sources despite being told its reporting was inaccurate.
“My only job: Make @DeptofWar Great Again,” Hegseth wrote on X.
Speculation surrounding Hegseth comes as the potential 2028 Republican presidential field begins taking shape, with several prominent members of President Donald Trump’s administration already being floated as possible contenders.
Vice President J.D. Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio have emerged as two of the biggest names, while Donald Trump Jr. and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis have also been mentioned as potential candidates.
Uphill battle in early polling
Early polling suggests Hegseth faces an uphill battle. A Conservative Political Action Conference straw poll conducted earlier in 2026 found Vance leading with 53 percent support among attendees, followed by Rubio at 35 percent. Hegseth received just 1 percent, while 3 percent were undecided. The survey was conducted March 25-28 among 1,630 CPAC attendees.
NBC News reported that Hegseth and his wife, Jennifer, have discussed a possible presidential run for months and believe his toughness, conservative politics and popularity with Trump’s MAGA base could translate into a viable campaign.
His recent appearance at the Iowa State Fair, where he campaigned for Republican Rep. Zach Nunn, also fueled speculation because of Iowa’s history as an early presidential battleground.
Hegseth’s allies, however, have rejected the report. Chief Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell told Newsweek, “Secretary Hegseth is not running for president, and his main priority is leading the War Department. All other speculation is foolish.”
On the campaign trail
Hegseth has increasingly appeared on the campaign trail ahead of the 2026 midterm elections, including traveling to Kentucky in May to campaign against Republican Rep. Thomas Massie.
Any potential campaign would also come with political challenges. The ongoing war in Iran remains unpopular with Americans as gasoline prices average more than $4 per gallon, while Hegseth previously faced controversy over conversations about planned military strikes on Yemen conducted through the messaging app Signal.
Trump’s continued influence over the GOP could also shape the eventual field as the president publicly discusses possible successors.
For now, Hegseth is adamant he is not among them. But with the 2028 election still more than two years away, the Republican field — and Hegseth’s standing within it — could change considerably.