Following Boris Johnson's election victory, Hunt was offered a different role to Foreign Secretary in Johnson's Cabinet but had decided to turn it down. He said on Twitter: "I would have been honoured to carry on my work at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office but understand the need for a new Prime Minister to choose his team. Boris Johnson kindly offered me another role but after 9 years in Cabinet and over 300 cabinet meetings now is the time to return to the backbenches from where the Prime Minister will have my full support." The "other role" Boris Johnson had offered him was that of Defence Secretary.