WASHINGTON, Dec 3 (Reuters) – U.S. President-elect Donald Trump is considering ditching his nominee to lead the Pentagon, Pete Hegseth, and naming Florida Governor Ron DeSantis in his place, the Wall Street Journal reported on Tuesday, citing people familiar with the discussions.
Hegseth’s nomination has run into trouble on Capitol Hill over allegations about his personal and professional life and Trump allies are increasingly speculating that Hegseth may not survive the scrutiny, the Journal reported. A veteran and former Fox News anchor, Hegseth would need the support of Senate Republicans to secure confirmation for the position.
Trump’s transition office and DeSantis’ office did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
So far, two of Trump’s top picks have resigned. Chad Chronister on Tuesday stepped down from running the Drug Enforcement Administration, just weeks after former Rep. Matt Gaetz resigned as attorney general amid intense scrutiny over allegations he had sex with a teenage girl.
DeSantis, who lost his bid for the Republican presidential nomination to Trump, had been on the list of possible defense secretary candidates but Trump decided to go with Hegseth, the Journal said.
DeSantis served in the Navy’s Judge Advocate General’s Corps from 2004 to 2010.
The magazine said Trump could decide not to nominate DeSantis and choose a replacement, if Hegseth’s nomination falls apart.
(Reporting by Eric Beech in Washington. Additional reporting by Daniel Trotta and Gnaneshwar Rajan; Editing by Kim Coghill and Scott Malone)
This article originally appeared on the Tallahassee Democrat: Trump considers DeSantis as Defense Secretary, WSJ reports.