“Who will inherit Trump?”… Why did Hegseth emerge so early in the 2028 election race?

Abu Dhabi, UAE – Despite Pete Higseth’s denials of considering a presidential run, his appearance in Iowa has reignited the question of succession within the Republican Party: Who will carry on Trump’s legacy after his term ends? Between J.D. Vance, Marco Rubio, and the Secretary of Defense, the outlines of the 2028 US presidential race are beginning to emerge even before it officially begins. Pete Higseth didn’t need to announce his candidacy for the US presidency to find himself at the center of speculation surrounding the 2028 election. A political visit to Iowa, coupled with reports of his potential consideration of a run, was enough to add his name to the list of figures seen as possible successors to Donald Trump within the Republican Party.

Ironically, Hegseth categorically denied the allegations, calling the reports “100% false,” while Trump’s response was more reserved, stating that the Secretary of Defense was “doing a fantastic job,” but that “it’s too early to talk about it,” emphasizing that the current priority was the midterm congressional elections. Why did Pete Hegseth emerge in the 2028 election race? Hegseth’s significance lies not only in his current position but also in his role within Trump’s political system.

The Secretary of Defense was a prominent media figure on Fox News and a war veteran who, in recent years, had become one of the conservative figures most closely associated with the president and his political base. His participation in a political event in Iowa fueled speculation about his future. The state is an early and crucial stage in the US presidential primaries, making any political move by a prominent Republican a closely watched affair. However, Higseth’s presence in Iowa does not necessarily indicate the launch of a presidential campaign; he participated in an event supporting a Republican candidate for the House of Representatives, and the Department of Defense confirmed that his activities were in a personal capacity.

Has Trump chosen his successor within the Republican Party?

The biggest question isn’t just about Hegseth, but about Trump’s own stance on the succession battle. The president remains the most influential figure within the Republican Party, but he hasn’t officially named a successor to his political project or the leader of the MAGA movement after his term ends. Political speculation, on the other hand, focuses primarily on Vice President J.D. Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, with reports of discussions within Trump’s inner circle about who is best suited to lead the Republican ticket in the 2028 presidential election. Vance currently appears to be in a strong position, especially given his role as vice president and his close political ties to Trump, while Rubio possesses extensive political and diplomatic experience and a strong presence within the party.

Vance, Rubio, and Hegseth… who has a chance to succeed Trump?

If Hegseth’s name continues to circulate, he won’t be entering a race without competition. J.D. Vance has the advantage of being vice president and represents a rising generation of politicians within the Trump movement. Marco Rubio combines political experience with international exposure, giving him a different profile within the Republican Party. Hegseth, on the other hand, presents a third model: a conservative media figure, a veteran, a Trump administration official, and a face close to the president’s most loyal base. This combination might give him a unique political space, but it doesn’t necessarily make him a de facto presidential candidate. As of now, there is no official campaign in his name, and he denies considering a run.

Why do the 2026 midterm elections represent an early test?

Although the 2028 US presidential election is still some time away, the political battle could effectively begin with the midterm elections in November 2026. Trump himself has indicated that discussing Hegseth’s electoral future is premature, emphasizing the need for Republicans to focus on the congressional elections. The results of the 2026 elections will reveal Trump’s ability to maintain his influence within the party during the second half of his term, and will also give those aspiring to succeed him an opportunity to prove their ability to win outside the president’s shadow. Therefore, the 2026 elections can be seen as an early test of the forces that will later compete for the leadership of the Republican Party.

Can Hegseth transition from the Pentagon to politics?

What makes Hegseth’s experience unique is that he didn’t reach his current position through the traditional path of Republican politicians. His career took him through media, the military, and then the Trump administration, rather than through the Senate or governorship before considering the White House. This trajectory reflects a broader shift within the Republican Party, where media prominence and the ability to connect directly with the conservative base have become political assets as important as traditional institutional experience. But moving from a security and military post to a presidential campaign would be a completely different step, especially given the delicate relationship between the military establishment and American politics.

Who will inherit the MAGA movement after Trump?

Herein lies the real battle in the 2028 election. The succession will not simply be a contest for the Republican Party nomination, but a struggle over the future of the political movement Trump built. Will the party continue the populist and nationalist approach associated with the president? Or will it move toward a more traditional formula in foreign and domestic policy? Perhaps the most crucial question will be: can any candidate retain the electoral base that is more closely tied to Trump than to the Republican establishment itself? Vance seems the most likely to continue the president’s political legacy, while Rubio possesses a different mix of political and diplomatic experience. As for Higseth, should he decide to run in the future, he may be banking on his image as a hardliner and a conservative close to the faction most closely aligned with Trump.

What does the US Constitution say about Trump’s third term?

The year 2028 represents a turning point in Trump’s political future due to existing constitutional limitations. The Twenty-Second Amendment to the US Constitution stipulates that no person may be elected president more than twice. Under the current constitutional rule, Trump cannot run for and win a third presidential term through the usual channels, making the upcoming election different from his previous ones. While it’s true that Trump has hinted on several occasions at the possibility of remaining politically active after 2028, and the slogan “Trump 2028” has even emerged, this does not negate the constitutional restriction preventing his election to a third term. Therefore, the most important political question is no longer simply: Can Trump return to the White House? But rather: Who can carry on Trump’s legacy after he is out of the race?

Has Hegseth become a genuine presidential candidate?

So far, there are insufficient indications to conclude that Pete Hegseth has become a de facto candidate in the 2028 US presidential election. He has denied considering a run, Trump has not endorsed him, and there is no official campaign in his name. However, American politics doesn’t always begin with a formal announcement. Sometimes it starts with an early test: a visit to a key swing state, a political appearance, building a network of relationships and donors, and then gauging the reaction of the electorate. From this perspective, the debate surrounding Hegseth is significant even if he ultimately doesn’t run, because it reveals the growing number of figures seeking a place for themselves in post-Trump America.

The 2028 elections effectively begin ahead of schedule.

The 2026 midterm elections may be the first real test on the road to the 2028 race. Politicians aspiring to succeed Trump will need to demonstrate their ability to maintain the Republican majority, connect with the conservative base, and build influence independent of the president. The results of 2026 may also determine the extent of Trump’s political power during the final years of his term. Thus, the 2028 US presidential election may not officially begin until later, but it could already be starting politically, testing potential candidates and their ability to present themselves as either an extension of Trumpism or an alternative to it.

The hardest question is… who can be Trump without being Trump?

The emergence of Hegseth’s name doesn’t necessarily mean he’s the next presidential candidate; more accurately, it means he’s become part of an early debate about the future of the Republican Party and the political succession after Trump. Vance has the advantage of his position as vice president, Rubio has extensive political and diplomatic experience, while Hegseth represents a different model, combining media, military, and political loyalty to Trump. But the real winner in this contest won’t necessarily be the one closest to Trump, but rather the person capable of translating the president’s popularity into a viable political project that can endure after him.

Hegseth isn’t the whole story

Pete Hegseth may be just another name that emerged early in a race that hasn’t officially begun, but the significance of his story extends far beyond his personal future. It reveals that the Republican Party has already started thinking about the day after Trump, even while the president remains its most influential player. Vance may be the most likely successor, Rubio could become the most capable challenger to reshape the party, and a third name that wasn’t previously considered might emerge. As for Hegseth, his case, so far, isn’t that of a declared presidential candidate; it’s an early test of a figure seen as close to the heart of the Trumpian movement, to see if he possesses the qualities to transition from Trump’s inner circle to the center of the post-Trump Republican landscape.

Therefore, the question that has brought the debate back to the forefront is not just about Hegseth: “Who will succeed Trump?” This may be the biggest political question within the Republican Party before the 2028 US presidential election. But the answer will not be determined by Trump alone; rather, it will be determined by the ability of each potential successor to carry on his legacy, expand it, and perhaps change it. Perhaps the most significant question is: Can any of them be Trump without actually being Trump?