Is Pete Hegseth quietly positioning himself for the White House? The Defense Secretary has increasingly appeared at Republican campaign events in key states, raising fresh questions about whether he could have presidential ambitions beyond the Trump administration. Hegseth has campaigned for GOP candidates including Zach Nunn, Lindsey Graham and Ed Gallrein, while the Pentagon has said some of these appearances were made in his personal capacity. His political activity comes as speculation grows over who could eventually succeed Donald Trump, with JD Vance and Marco Rubio among the names frequently discussed. But Hegseth's path is complicated by a series of controversies, including his handling of sensitive military information, Pentagon personnel shake-ups and criticism over his leadership. His approval rating has also faced scrutiny.
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