Maggie Haberman Says ‘Trump Couldn’t Find Anyone’ Who Supported DeSantis for Defense Secretary
Maggie Haberman shared insights about President-elect Donald Trump’s decision to stick with Pete Hegseth as his pick for Secretary of Defense, even though some of Trump’s advisors thought it was a bad idea to consider Florida Governor Ron DeSantis for the role.
Earlier this year, DeSantis competed against Trump for the Republican presidential nomination but lost. During the campaign, DeSantis had criticized Trump openly, which made the idea of him being nominated for a top position surprising to many.
Last week, The Wall Street Journal reported that Trump was considering dropping Hegseth and nominating DeSantis instead. Haberman described this as “mind-boggling,” given the tension between Trump and DeSantis during the primaries.
Pete Hegseth, a former Fox News host, has been involved in several controversies. He faces allegations of sexual assault, which he denies, along with accusations of repeated infidelity and showing up to work under the influence of alcohol.
These issues have created significant negative press for Hegseth and made some Republican senators hesitant to support his nomination.
For Hegseth to be confirmed, he can only afford to lose the support of three Republican senators, assuming all Democrats vote against him.
On CNN’s AC360, Haberman discussed Trump’s frustration with the constant negative attention surrounding Hegseth.
Guest host John Berman asked why Trump decided to stick with Hegseth despite these issues. Haberman explained that Trump was indeed tired of the bad press, but two main factors influenced his decision.
No one in Trump’s circle, or even outside it, thought that making DeSantis Secretary of Defense was a good idea.
It wasn’t about searching for other candidates—Trump was simply choosing between Hegseth and DeSantis. Pete Hegseth reached out to Trump directly and convinced him to give him a chance to defend himself and address the controversies.
After their conversation, Trump allowed Hegseth to push back against the negative coverage. Shortly after, Hegseth appeared in an interview with Megyn Kelly to defend his record and explain his side of the story.
Haberman also highlighted the role of Trump’s supporters in the conservative “MAGA” movement. They launched online campaigns and digital ads to rally support for Hegseth. These efforts specifically targeted Senator Joni Ernst of Iowa, a key Republican senator, to persuade her to back Hegseth’s nomination.
Haberman reiterated that DeSantis was never a strong contender because nominating him would have brought back all the negative things he had said about Trump during their primary rivalry. This would have added more controversy and distraction, making DeSantis an unlikely choice from the start.
In the end, Trump chose to stick with Pete Hegseth despite the controversies. While Hegseth’s nomination faces challenges in the Senate, Trump’s decision was shaped by his advisors’ lack of support for DeSantis, Hegseth’s personal plea to fight back against the bad press, and the MAGA movement’s push to secure Republican votes for him.
