Donald Trump may have mastered the art of the deal again, with rumors that Ron DeSantis will replace Pete Hegseth as Secretary of Defense in exchange for daughter-in-law Lara getting Florida’s open Senate seat.
Reports suggest the relationship between the friends-turned-enemies has undergone a “remarkable turnaround” as the president-elect continues talks to make the Florida governor his new nominee to lead the Pentagon.
Florida’s governor and Trump reportedly had one-on-one conversations about the measure.
A GOP source said The stronghold: ‘These discussions are real. It’s serious. I can’t say it will definitely happen, but the governor is open to it and Trump means it too.’
DailyMail.com has contacted the Trump-Vance transition team for comment.
It would mark a new twist in the long-standing intertwine of political fortunes for Trump and DeSantis — who ran against Trump in the Republican primaries before dropping out.
Trump has reportedly been ready to call for a fresh start between the two biggest stars of American conservatism.
Another aspect of these new talks: DeSantis’ job of replacing one of Florida’s two sitting U.S. senators as Marco Rubio is nominated for secretary of state.
Donald Trump’s relationship with Ron DeSantis has undergone a ‘remarkable turnaround’ as the president-elect continues advanced talks to make the Florida governor his next nominee for Secretary of Defense
DeSantis is reportedly being considered in an eleventh hour move to take out original, controversial nominee Pete Hegseth
A Republican insider claims that DeSantis running the Pentagon could be linked to the appointment of Trump’s daughter-in-law and RNC co-chair Lara Trump.
“Initially, Lara Trump wasn’t part of any of this. But there was no way it could have been prevented.”
The governor, who was originally shortlisted for the position, is likely to share the values of Hegseth, who has called for the military to be rid of so-called ‘woke’ policies.
A DeSantis ally suggested the governor won’t worry about media perceptions and will simply get the job done for Trump.
“He needs an unsuspecting honey badger to go in there and wipe out trash, and the government is the OG honey badger.”
Another source suggested the talks with DeSantis are a sign that Hegseth is on thin ice despite a media tour in an effort to improve matters.
“I’m not sure what Pete’s going to say, but right now he looks like an asshole. If Trump is talking to DeSantis while all this is going on, that’s a sign that Trump doesn’t think Pete is going to make it.”
Former Fox News host Hegseth’s pick to lead the Defense Department is grappling with a tough confirmation after previous allegations of sexual misconduct and excessive drinking resurfaced.
A Republican insider claims that DeSantis running the Pentagon could be linked to the appointment of Trump’s daughter-in-law and RNC co-chair Lara Trump.
Earlier Tuesday, Hegseth vowed not to drink if confirmed to the Pentagon’s top job, following a flood of negative stories spotlighting his consumption.
“This is the biggest commitment of my life, and there won’t be a drop of alcohol on my lips while I’m doing it,” Hegseth said Wednesday on The Megyn Kelly Show.
His pledge comes as lawmakers are skeptical of his qualifications to lead the Pentagon — the nation’s largest employer, with more than 2 million under its purview and a budget of $800 billion.
Confirmation has become more difficult as a steady stream of negative reports have emerged highlighting his alleged binge drinking and questionable behavior towards women.
Hegseth, 44, has also been accused of assault and getting so drunk on the job that he was forced out of his leadership role for a veterans group.
Another recent one NBC news report claims that 10 current and former Fox News employees said they were concerned about his drinking and that they could smell alcohol on him “as early as last month.”
While many of the reports cite anonymous sources, something Republicans are quick to point out, they have added additional claims to the pile of material the Senate must go through before confirming Hegseth.
Hegseth delved further into his drinking habits on the podcast of Megyn Kelly, who is also a former Fox host.
Pete Hegseth went on The Megyn Kelly Show on Wednesday to once again defend himself against a slew of scathing reports about him — and admitted that there are “kernels of truth” in some of the stories. He also explained that he paid a woman who accused him of rape because he was afraid it would hurt his career and his wife
‘What do boys often do when they come back from the war? Have a few beers. How do you deal with the demons you see on the battlefield? Sometimes it’s with a bottle,” he said.
‘Unfortunately, tragically, for too many boys it’s the bottle and then it’s depression and then, even worse, suicide.’
“I found my purposeful chapters that got me out of there,” he said.
“I’m a very different person than I was 10 years ago,” Hegseth insisted, pointing to his wife Jennifer and his Christian faith.
Trump apparently supports his choice and Hegseth said he recently spoke with him.
‘He supports me. We talked,” Hegseth said of his conversation with Trump. “He said: you go meet those senators and I will support you.”
The father of seven also recalled to Kelly how Trump said, “Pete, I have your back. It’s a fight, they’re coming after you. Go after it.’
But as the headwinds Hegseth faces appear to be the strongest, some senators are talking about other possible candidates for the top Pentagon position, such as DeSantis.
A DeSantis ally suggested the governor won’t worry about media perceptions and will simply get the job done for Trump
Meanwhile, many in the Senate are awaiting their own meetings with Hegseth to see if he can handle the full confirmation process.
The former Fox News host met early Wednesday morning with Sen. Roger Wicker, R-Miss., who will serve the next Congress in the influential role of chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, charged with overseeing his nomination .
Their session was just one of several planned for this week and next as Hegseth makes his rounds with the 53 Republicans whose support he is seeking. He can only afford to lose three Republican votes.
Wicker indicated the meeting went well, although he did not reveal the details of their conversation.
“I don’t see any obstacles that can’t be overcome,” Wicker said of Hegseth’s chances of being confirmed. He also added that the former TV presenter should stay in the fight.
However, Wicker did say that Hegseth would promise to stop drinking if confirmed, which the senator said was “a good idea.”
The allegations about Hegseth drinking women seemed to be of particular interest among female lawmakers.
“I would like to hear from him about many of the allegations that you have all made,” Republican Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska said of Hegseth.
She is the longest-serving Republican woman in the Senate and has a reputation as a moderate, meaning the former Fox News host could face an uphill battle that could sway her.
“I am scheduled to meet with Pete Hegseth next week to investigate his qualifications, his vision for the department and these new allegations against him,” said Sen. Cynthia Lummis of Wyoming.