IOWA — Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth was scheduled to travel to Iowa on Monday to give remarks, speak to veterans, and campaign. Hegseth is scheduled to appear at an event for Republican Representative Zach Nunn.

Nunn currently serves as a colonel in the U.S. Air Force Reserve. He served in the Air Force for nearly two decades before entering elected office. Nunn has served in Congress since 2023.

In the 2024 election, he won his seat by four percentage points. The Cook Political Report rates Nunn's seat as lean Republican.

The trip continues a pattern of cabinet officials visiting Iowa recently. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent visited the state recently. U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer also made a recent visit.

Small Business Administration Administrator Kelly Loeffler traveled to Iowa recently. Veterans Affairs Secretary Doug Collins visited the state recently. NATO official Matt Whitaker was another recent visitor to Iowa.

Hegseth traveled to South Carolina last week for the renaming ceremony of Joint Base Charleston to Joint Base Lindsey Graham. Senator Darline Graham attended the ceremony. The renaming occurred the day before the special Republican primary to replace Senator Graham on the ticket. Darline Graham and Representative Ralph Norman advanced to a runoff election after no candidate received 50% of the vote in that primary.

Earlier this year, Hegseth visited northern Kentucky to support Republican Ed Gallrein in a primary against Representative Thomas Massie. Gallrein won the Republican primary against Massie. Massie has vocally opposed the war in Iran and aid to Israel.

What's New

The renaming of Joint Base Charleston to Joint Base Graham followed former Senator Graham’s death on July 11. Joint Base Charleston was renamed Joint Base Graham on August 10, 2026. Joint Base Graham is US military joint service installation near North Charleston, South Carolina, United States.

Why It Matters

The schedule places Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth in Iowa alongside other high-ranking administration officials who have recently visited the state. This includes Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, Small Business Administration Administrator Kelly Loeffler, Veterans Affairs Secretary Doug Collins, and NATO official Matt Whitaker. Hegseth’s appearance supports Republican Representative Zach Nunn, who holds the rank of colonel in the U.S. Air Force Reserve and served in the Air Force for nearly two decades.

Hegseth’s travel follows other recent political engagements, including a trip to South Carolina last week for the renaming of Joint Base Charleston to Joint Base Graham. Earlier this year, he visited northern Kentucky to support Republican Ed Gallrein in a primary against Representative Thomas Massie. Gallrein won that primary. Massie has vocally opposed the war in Iran and aid to Israel. Nunn won his 2024 election by four percentage points, and the Cook Political Report rates his seat as lean Republican.