Rick Scott shows support for embattled Defense Secretary nominee Pete Hegseth

Some GOP U.S. senators may be feeling uneasy about Pete Hegseth, President-elect Donald Trump’s pick to serve as his Secretary of Defense, but Rick Scott isn’t one of them.

The Florida lawmaker said Wednesday morning that he’s standing by Hegseth to lead the Pentagon, despite the reports about his treatment of women and allegations of drinking that have surfaced over the past week.

“I met with @PeteHegseth this week and one of the reasons I support him is that he has led his fellow service men and women in combat. I support President Trump’s pick and look forward to his swift confirmation,” Scott said on X.

Scott’s show of support came just after the Wall Street Journal reported Tuesday night that Trump was “considering” Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis as a potential replacement for Hegseth to lead the Defense Department. Scott and DeSantis are not considered close.

DeSantis served in the U.S. Navy as a lawyer (the term is JAG, or Judge Advocate General). He served on active duty from 2005 to 2010 and was stationed in Iraq with Seal Team 1 from 2007 to 2008, according to his military records.

The Journal reported that DeSantis was on an earlier list of potential defense secretary candidates whose names transition officials initially presented to Trump, who chose Hegseth, who served as an Army National Guard veteran and Fox News host.

However, The New York Times reports that a “vast” number of people in Trump’s camp “dislike and distrust” DeSantis following their bitter presidential campaign in 2023 and are discussing other alternatives to Hegseth, including Florida U.S. Rep.  Michael Waltz, already picked by Trump as his national security adviser.

Speaking at Notre Dame University just days after the election last month, DeSantis was asked by a student if he had been offered a position in Trump’s administration.

“I think for me, I’m not seeking anything,” DeSantis said, not directly addressing whether he has been in communication with Trump’s team. “I’ve got a great job in the state of Florida. … How can I best make a difference? I think, you know, given where we are, I think me quarterbacking the Sunshine State is probably how I make the biggest difference.”

For his part, Hegseth indicated on Wednesday that he has no intention of withdrawing his name.

“I’m doing this for the warfighters, not the warmongers,” he said on X. “The Left is afraid of disrupters and change agents. They are afraid of @realDonaldTrump—and me. So they smear w/ fake, anonymous sources & BS stories. They don’t want truth. Our warriors never back down, & neither will I.”