NBC News has reported that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is considering a run for Tennessee governor in 2026. Hegseth, a resident of Tennessee, would have to resign from his current position to run for political office. Hegseth has faced controversy for sharing classified information and his stance on women in the military.

The Pentagon’s chief spokesman Sean Parnell denied that Hegseth has ambitions of political office, and said the former Fox News host’s focus “remains solely on serving under President Trump.” Parnell said the sources are either “imaginary” or the news station was “getting punked.”

On July 29, NBC reported that Hegseth has "privately discussed the idea of running for political office." While the Pentagon’s chief spokesman Sean Parnell denied any idea of Hegseth vying for the governorship in Tennessee, the Secretary of Defense could run for office should he choose to leave his current post.