Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has told people close to him that Sean Parnell would be his top choice for secretary of the Army, several senior officials told CBS News.

The White House is defending U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth after U.S. Sen. Thom Tillis, a North Carolina Republican, called for him to be replaced at the Pentagon.

A Republican senator called on President Donald Trump to replace Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth for his "inept" leadership, but a former White House staffer predicted the situation would need to get much worse before he would take that step.

The president was asked about an NBC News report that the Pentagon chief has discussed a potential White House run.

Dan Driscoll had been rumored to step down at some point between now and the end of the year but the White House announced his departure Monday.

News24 host Sharri Markson reveals War Secretary Pete Hegseth is emerging as a potential contender for the presidency.