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President Donald Trump addressed rumors regarding Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth potentially running for president in 2028, stating, "It's too early to be talking about that." During a press briefing at the White House on October 31, Trump shared his thoughts on reports suggesting Hegseth was considering a presidential run. He praised Hegseth for taking good care of the military but refrained from making specific comments about a potential candidacy.
Hegseth responded to NBC's report by calling it "100% false" and denied any possibility of running for president. However, despite the military's tradition of maintaining political neutrality, he has shown political activity by attending campaign events for Republican candidates supported by Trump. Trump also expressed a positive view on Senator Ted Cruz's potential presidential run.
Currently, potential Republican candidates for the 2028 presidential election include Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and it is expected that declarations from presidential candidates will follow after the midterm elections in the U.S. Trump noted that many individuals are considering running for president, suggesting that political competition is about to intensify.