He’s denying it (for now) but it seems self-professed ‘Warrior’ Pete Hegseth thinks he’s Presidential material! I wonder what Marco Rubio and J.D. Vance are thinking about Petey Boy competing with them to take over as leader when Trump is no longer Mad King of MAGA. I’ll admit being floored by this news. I knew Hegesth is delusional but imagining himself as President? On the other hand the infighting with Vance and Rubio should be entertaining as hell.
Now, this might seem crazy and more like a piece of satire from The Onion than actual real news. However according to Raw Story, despite denials Hegseth has been quietly exploring a run for President. Still, the linked article cites a Friday report from NBC News stating Petey Boy really is talking about running in 2028. So is his wife and given the weird dynamics of husband/wife relationships in Hegesth’s version of Christianity she wouldn’t be doing so without his blessing and direction:
Hegseth’s wife, Jennifer, has also been floating the idea during the past few months, insiders told NBC News. Pete Hegseth reportedly keeps his wife, who also used to be his Fox News producer, close by his side, even bringing her to meetings with foreign military officers.
Insiders told NBC News that Jennifer Hegseth believes her husband has the same qualities that made President Donald Trump popular with the MAGA movement. Trump’s core voters like Hegseth’s toughness, defiance, and conservative stance on social issues, insiders said.
Hegesth’s wife, who as far as we know not only doesn’t have any relevant experience (no, being his producer on his Fox weekend gig doesn’t count) or security clearance is at his side virtually all the time. As I think about it it makes me wonder if ole Pete is the ‘courageous warrior’ he claims to be – mostly getting his wife to run the idea up the flagpole instead of assembling a team of operatives and donors himself. Maybe deep down he knows he’ll flame out? I’d sure like to see that happen because it would be a lot more entertaining that DeSantis failure, or Scot Walker before that.
Still, Hegeseth seems to be starting to do things Presidential wannabes do. Like showing up in Iowa. (and New Hampshire – what excuse could he use to go there?) When high profile political types do such things at this point of a Presidential cycle it gets noticed:
Speculation about Hegseth’s possible presidential run took off after he appeared at the Iowa State Fair earlier this month to stump for a Republican congressman seeking re-election. At the fair, he delivered a speech in which he used a transgender slur.
Iowa is a long-established springboard for presidential campaigns, NBC News noted. His appearance prompted questions for the Pentagon about whether he plans to run for president.
Officially the Pentagon is dismissive of all this. Sean Parnell put out a statement about Hegeseth concentrating on running (into the ground) the ‘War’ Department. He called speculation of his boss running for President “foolish.” I for one think that Hegseth really does think he could get the GOP nomination. What matters though is that some Republicans see it as viable:
An anonymous Republican political operative involved in midterm races told NBC News that Hegseth’s presentation resonates with male Trump voters.
“Hegseth is good for men, for base voters,” the operative said. “He encapsulates that masculinity that Trump captured in 2024.”
We will have to just wait and see. The Klown Kar Demolition Derby that will take place to determine Trump’s successor promises to be quite the shiite show. Hegseth might however stand out, at least for a while. However unlike with Trump old-school conservatives will I think kneecap him early on if it looks like he might repeat Trump’s feat of gaining too much momentum before they realized it was time to step in.
However Hegseth might not get the chance to steal a tank and drive it into that demolition derby. He helped convince Trump to go to war with Iran and even a competent SecDef would have had trouble obtaining a military victory against them. If the midterms go the way it seems like they will and Trump finds himself being the lamest lame duck ever he’s going to look for people to blame. Hegseth could well be the first person Trump throws under the bus. That would leaves Hegeseth’s delusions of grandeur in ‘nothing but a dream (and a stupid one) world.’
