Trump hints at choice to lead Defense Department should he return to the White House

Former President Donald Trump on Friday discussed his potential pick to lead the Department of Defense should he reclaim the White House in 2024.

Trump's first defense secretary was James Mattis, who departed in 2019 and was replaced by Mark Esper, who in turn left in 2020. Christopher Miller then held the post in an acting capacity for the remainder of the administration.

Speaking on the "Hugh Hewitt Show" on Friday, Trump praised Miller, saying "I thought he was really good. I thought he was very good."

Trump brought up Miller in response to Hewitt's queries on a potential Pentagon leader in a second Trump administration. 

"You're going to need a secretary of Defense. You had four of them. Now I’ve named a bunch of people," Hewitt said. "[Arkansas GOP Sen. Tom] Cotton would be good. [Former Secretary of State Mike] Pompeo would be good. [Former National Security Advisor Robert] O'Brien would be good. [Florida GOP Rep.] Mike Waltz would be good. [Wisconsin GOP Rep. Mike] Gallagher would. Have you got, will you put out a list of people that you will put into the cabinet?"

"Yeah, that’s a good list to start off with. That's, what you just said is a good list to start off with. We have, it's such an important position. You know, we had Miller at the end who did a very good job," Trump replied.

Ben Whedon is an editor and reporter for Just the News. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter.