Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis of Florida will be a part of President-elect Trump subsequent weekend on the annual Military-Navy faculty soccer sport, two sources acquainted inform Fox Information.
The teaming up of DeSantis and Trump – for the second time this month – comes as a number of sources have confirmed that the president-elect is contemplating nominating the governor as protection secretary as a attainable alternative for Pete Hegseth, Trump’s embattled present choose to steer the Pentagon.
However the transfer additionally comes as Trump on Friday took to social media to put in writing that “Hegseth is doing very effectively. His help is powerful and deep, way more so than the Pretend Information would have you ever consider.”
DeSantis, a well-liked conservative governor and a Navy veteran who served within the Iraq Conflict, waged a bitter battle final 12 months and early this 12 months with Trump throughout a really combative and divisive GOP presidential nomination race. However the two Republican heavyweights appeared to make peace after the primaries, and DeSantis helped elevate funds for Trump throughout the common election.
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Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis held a number of storm-preparation information conferences on Oct. 7, 2024, as Hurricane Milton threatened Florida. (Workplace of Florida governor)
DeSantis, who was re-elected in a landslide in 2022 however is term-limited and can’t run for re-election in 2026, is “very a lot” in rivalry to switch Hegseth, a number of sources informed Fox Information.
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One other supply informed Fox Information’ chief political anchor and “Particular Report” host Bret Baier that it was the president-elect himself who floated the governor’s title, and that Trump and DeSantis mentioned the concept as they met Tuesday whereas showing collectively in Florida at a memorial service for fallen legislation enforcement officers in Palm Seaside County.
Pete Hegseth, President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee to be protection secretary, is joined by his spouse Jennifer Rauchet, as they stroll by way of the basement of the Capitol, Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photograph/Mark Schiefelbein)
The reporting from Fox Information and different organizations this week got here as Hegseth continued assembly with Republican senators as he made his case for affirmation as protection secretary.
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Hegseth, an Military Nationwide Guard officer who deployed to the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq and who beforehand was a Fox Information host, is dealing with a sequence of ingesting and sexual misconduct allegations. He has denied allegations that he mistreated girls and has vowed that he will not drink “a drop of alcohol” if confirmed as protection secretary.
A seemingly defiant Hegseth informed reporters on Thursday afternoon that “this won’t be a course of tried within the media. I don’t reply to anybody on this group. None of you, to not that digital camera in any respect. I reply to President Trump, who acquired 76 million votes on behalf . . . and a mandate for change. I reply to the 100 senators who’re a part of this course of and people within the committee. And I reply to my Lord and Savior and my spouse and my household.”
Trump, in his social media put up, argued that Hegseth “will probably be a improbable, excessive power, Secretary of Protection . . . , one who leads with charisma and ability.”
Then-President Donald Trump attended the annual Military-Navy soccer sport at Lincoln Monetary Subject in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, December 8, 2018. (Jim Watson/AFP by way of Getty Photos)
The Military-Navy sport is scheduled for Dec. 14 in Landover, Maryland. Will probably be the a hundred and twenty fifth sport within the storied soccer sequence between the 2 army service academies.
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Trump attended the sport as president-elect in 2016 and three further instances throughout his first administration.
