Hegseth recently made headlines when he shared a CNN video on social media about the Communion of Reformed Evangelical Churches, a conservative Christian network, showing its pastors arguing women should not have the right to vote.

On July 29, NBC reported that Hegseth has "privately discussed the idea of running for political office." While the Pentagon’s chief spokesman Sean Parnell denied any idea of Hegseth vying for the governorship in Tennessee, the Secretary of Defense could run for office should he choose to leave his current post.