Trump: Too early to discuss Hegseth's 2028 White House bid

US President Donald Trump stated on Monday that it is premature to discuss his potential successor, avoiding any mention of a 2028 White House run by Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth. When asked about reports suggesting Hegseth has considered a presidential bid, Trump praised the Pentagon chief, stating, "He's doing a fantastic job."

However, Trump emphasized that they must first focus on winning back control of Congress in the upcoming midterms. The Republican Party is currently fighting to maintain its majority in both chambers of the US Congress in the November elections. Hegseth, an Army National Guard veteran and former Fox News Channel host, campaigned for Republicans at the Iowa State Fair this month and previously denied the report on his 2028 presidential ambitions as "100 percent false" on social media.

Despite this, Trump hinted that there may be other potential candidates for his Make America Great Again movement, which he plans to lead until leaving office in 2029. Vice President Mike Pence and Secretary of State Marco Rubio have also been speculated to run. Trump acknowledged that there might be other individuals considering a run that he is unaware of. Currently, Trump's primary focus remains on the military and their well-being.