Ron DeSantis.
Ron DeSantis Sergio Flores for The Washington Post via Getty ImagesCiting sources familiar with the decision-making, NBC News reported that Gov.
Ron DeSantis is "very much in contention" to lead Trump's Department of Defense should Hegseth drop out of the running.
AdvertisementAmong the potential replacements for Hegseth, DeSantis appears to have emerged as a frontrunner.
Ernst, who serves on the Armed Services Committee, was previously under consideration as defense secretary before the president-elect tapped Hegseth.
Persons:
Pete Hegseth, Donald Trump, Trump, Hegseth, Kevin Lamarque Hegseth, John Thune, Ron DeSantis, Elbridge Colby, Republican Sen, Joni Ernst of Iowa, Schake, who's, isn't, Matt Gaetz, Ron DeSantis Sergio Flores, DeSantis, Ron DeSanctimonious, Ron DeSanctus, Ron, Ronald D, Sen, Joni Ernst Sen, Joni Ernst, Mariam Zuhaib, GOP Sen, Ernst, Pete Hegseth's, Colby Elbridge Colby, Chad Trujillo Elbridge Colby, Colby, Marco Rubio, hasn't
Organizations:
Fox News, Army, Senate, Pentagon, Trump, GOP, Fox & Friends, White House, REUTERS, Capitol, CNN, Street Journal, Florida Gov, Republican, Foreign, Defense, American Enterprise Institute, ABC, Gov, Ron DeSantis Florida Gov, The Washington, Getty, NBC News, Trump's Department of Defense, New, US Navy, " Navy, Democratic, Congresisonal Army, Iowa Army National Guard, Armed Services Committee, Iowa Republican, Department of Government, DoD, U.S . Air Force, Staff, Street, The Washington Post, National Defense
Locations:
China, Ron DeSantis Florida, New Hampshire, Florida, Iraq, hawkish, America