Pete Hegseth’s Approval Hits Record Low Amid 2028 Speculation - Newsweek

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's approval rating has fallen to its lowest level ever recorded by Quinnipiac University, according to a new poll released Thursday, as questions about his political future continue to surface despite his repeated denials that he is considering a 2028 presidential run.

The survey found that 32 percent of voters approve of the way Hegseth is handling his job as Secretary of Defense, while 57 percent disapprove. Another 11 percent did not offer an opinion. Quinnipiac said the result marks the worst approval rating Hegseth has received in its polling. His previous low was 34 percent, recorded in surveys released in May and July.

The poll also found that 39 percent of voters are either very confident or somewhat confident in Hegseth's leadership of the U.S. military, while 56 percent said they were either not so confident or not confident at all.

Pentagon Press Secretary Kingsley Wilson told Newsweek on Thursday, “Secretary Hegseth has been a transformative leader for the Department of War and, at President Trump’s direction, has ushered in a new era of Peace Through Strength. Standards and merit are back, our arsenal is stronger than ever before, and morale and recruitment across every service are at all-time highs. Secretary Hegseth has slashed bureaucracy, unleashed innovation, and delivered for our warfighters every step of the way. By every measurable metric, the Department of War is better under Secretary Hegseth’s leadership than before. The entire Department is unified behind the Secretary’s vision and will continue working to put our warfighters and America first.”

The Pentagon also referred Newsweek to a previous post Hegseth made on X last month refuting a claim that he is considering a 2028 run.

Newsweek also reached out to the White House on Thursday evening.

The findings arrive at a difficult moment for Hegseth, who has remained one of the most scrutinized members of President Donald Trump's Cabinet.

Questions about his leadership have persisted amid the administration's military operations in Iran and the fallout from the Signal chat controversy over discussions of planned strikes in Yemen last year. Republican Senator Thom Tillis, who voted to confirm Hegseth, recently declared that the defense secretary had "lost my confidence," citing concerns about his management style and Pentagon leadership.

Recent criticism has extended beyond Tillis. Former Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall told ABC News' This Week on Sunday that he had "never seen an attempt to politicize our military like the one being conducted by Pete Hegseth," arguing that the removal of senior officers and intervention in promotions had created a climate in which military leaders are reluctant to speak candidly.

Hegseth's supporters reject that characterization. In comments previously provided to Newsweek, Chief Pentagon Spokesman Sean Parnell called suggestions that the Defense Department is in disarray "completely baseless" and said the Pentagon is "firing on all cylinders under Secretary Hegseth's leadership." Such criticism nevertheless appears to have taken a toll on his standing with voters.

While Hegseth remains a favorite among many Trump supporters, the new Quinnipiac numbers suggest he continues to struggle with the broader electorate. The survey was released as Trump's own approval rating remained underwater, with 33 percent approving and 59 percent disapproving of the president's job performance.

The poll comes less than two weeks after Hegseth denied a report that he was considering a bid for the White House in 2028.

In late August, NBC News reported that Hegseth had discussed a possible presidential campaign with friends and associates. Hegseth quickly rejected the report, calling it "100% false," while Parnell told Newsweek that the secretary's sole focus was leading the War Department.

Although Hegseth has denied considering a White House bid, he previously ran unsuccessfully for the U.S. Senate in Minnesota in 2012 before joining Fox News and later entering the Trump administration.

Even so, speculation about the post-Trump Republican field has continued.

During a September 8 appearance on CNN's The Source, Republican Senator Ted Cruz was asked by Kaitlan Collins about potential Republican contenders for 2028. While stressing that Republicans should focus on the upcoming midterm elections, Cruz listed several figures who "may run," including Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Tulsi Gabbard, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Hegseth.

Trump has also weighed in on the speculation. Asked earlier this month about reports that Hegseth was considering a 2028 bid, Trump said the defense secretary was "doing a fantastic job" but added that it was "very early" to discuss the next presidential race. "Right now, all he loves and all he cares about is the military and taking care of the military," Trump said.

For now, Hegseth continues to insist he has no plans to run. But as Republicans increasingly look toward 2028, the new Quinnipiac poll highlights a potential challenge he would face if that ever changed: persuading a broader electorate at a time when his approval ratings are at a record low.

Contact Newsweek editors on this story: Samantha Beech and Gray R. Thomas