The defense secretary has talked privately about running a campaign in Tennessee, sources told NBC News. The Pentagon said Hegseth’s “focus remains solely on serving under” Trump.

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.”

Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth privately discussed running for political office in Tennessee next year, according to a report. Two people who said they spoke directly with Hegseth about the matter told NBC News that the conversations focused on potential bids for elected office,