EXCLUSIVE: FOX NEWS READY TO WELCOME BACK PETE HEGSETH — IF WHITE HOUSE PUSHES HIM OUT
Insiders say his return would be “ratings gold” as whispers of a primetime slot heat up
Pete Hegseth may be fighting for his job in Washington — but TV execs are already rolling out the red carpet.
Multiple sources tell #ShuterScoop that if the embattled Secretary of Defense is ousted from his post, Fox News would “gladly” take him back — and possibly elevate him beyond his former weekend morning gig.
“He’s more famous now than when he left,” a Fox insider says. “His name’s in the headlines, his brand is bigger, and his return would be ratings gold.”
The chatter comes as NPR reports the White House has quietly begun the process of seeking a replacement for Hegseth, despite public backing from President Donald Trump and Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt.
“The White House has begun the process of looking for a new Secretary of Defense,” an unnamed U.S. official told NPR, noting the source was not authorized to speak publicly.
Behind the scenes, the pressure has been building. A blistering op-ed from a former Pentagon insider accused Hegseth of overseeing “total chaos,” and additional reporting revealed he shared classified details of a strike on the Houthis in a private Signal chat with family members.
Yet amid the firestorm, TV insiders see a comeback narrative.
“He’s still a hero to the MAGA base,” says a former Fox producer. “Put him in primetime and watch the numbers skyrocket.”
According to sources at Fox News, there’s already internal buzz about slotting him into a high-profile evening hour if he’s officially let go from the Trump administration — a twist that could reshape the conservative media landscape.
“The calculus is simple,” one network executive says. “If Trump doesn’t want him in the Pentagon, he could have a far louder megaphone at Fox.”
As for Hegseth? He’s said to be “rattled but defiant,” telling allies he has “nothing to apologize for” and that the leaks are politically motivated.
#ShuterScoop