Ron DeSantis, the Governor of Florida, is a top contender to be nominated as defense secretary under President-elect Donald Trump. However, despite his strong qualifications, there are several obstacles that could prevent Trump from offering him the job, and DeSantis from accepting it.
One potential hurdle is Pete Hegseth, Trump’s current nominee for defense secretary, who has the support of U.S. Senator Rick Scott, a Florida Republican. Hegseth has been mired in controversy due to allegations of rape, which he has denied.
DeSantis and Trump have a complicated history, having traded barbs during the Republican presidential primary last year. While they have since buried the hatchet, DeSantis has largely stayed away from taking moral positions against Trump, focusing instead on political differences.
There are also concerns that the defense secretary job may not be in DeSantis’ best interest. The job is high-profile and would keep him in D.C. and potentially on television, which could help him build support for a potential 2028 presidential bid. However, the job is a federal governmental position, which would make raising money more difficult due to the Hatch Act.
Additionally, serving in a Cabinet post would limit DeSantis’ ability to criticize or distance himself from the Trump administration in a future presidential bid. DeSantis is not particularly wealthy and D.C. is expensive, and becoming defense secretary would come with a significant raise, but also new bills.
Finally, working for Trump does not scream job security, as Cabinet secretaries serve at the pleasure of the president and can be pushed out of office on a whim. If DeSantis takes the job, he would have to purchase or lease a second home in Washington, D.C., which could be a significant financial burden.