DeSantis Is More Popular Than Pete Hegseth As Doubts About His Nomination As Defense Secretary Persist, Poll Shows

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis continues to be a prominent figure in Republican circles, holding greater popularity among Americans than Pete Hegseth. Discussions continue about DeSantis as a potential backup for Secretary of Defense if President-elect Donald Trump's initial nominee, Hegseth, fails to secure Senate confirmation or drops his bid as a result of the multiple allegations against him.

Hegseth, a military veteran and Fox News commentator, has faced allegations of excessive drinking and sexual assault, which he denies. According to recent Associated Press-NORC polling, only 20% of Americans approve of his nomination, while 36% disapprove. A significant number—1 in 10—don't know enough about him to form an opinion.

Hegseth's support among Republicans is slightly stronger, with about one-third approving of his nomination, while 16% disapprove and 10% remain neutral. However, his overall approval lags behind DeSantis.

Polling from YouGov shows DeSantis holding a 37% approval rating among Americans, with 42% viewing him unfavorably. This is significantly better than his January numbers aggregated by FiveThirtyEight, which showed him at 32% favorable and 47% unfavorable.

DeSantis' popularity among Republicans is far stronger. The YouGov poll reported 70% of GOP members view him favorably, down 4 points from January but still 7 points higher than January data from Ipsos.

DeSantis, a former Navy lawyer and a 2024 GOP primary rival for the presidency, was on an earlier list of potential candidates for the role but lost out to the former Fox News host. DeSantis's military service and alignment with Trump's views on "woke" policies in the armed forces could help solidify support among Republicans. However, some Trump allies oppose DeSantis, which could hinder his chances.

However, despite all the accusations against Hegseth, Trump has continued to reiterate his support for him. The President-elect acknowledged concerns about Hegseth's nomination but defended him as a "young guy with a tremendous track record" and dismissed the allegations during an interview with NBC's Kristen Welker last week. "I've spoken to people that know [Hegseth] very well and they say he does not have a drinking problem," Trump said.

Political insiders have doubts about the viability of picking DeSantis, according to a recent investigation. If Hegseth's nomination falters, other candidates to head the Pentagon include former Pentagon official Elbridge Colby, an ally of Vice President-elect JD Vance, and Senator Joni Ernst of Iowa. Florida Politics also mentions Bill Hagerty of Tennessee as a potential nominee.