Trump rules out sacking Hegseth despite reports he is asking advisers if his Pentagon chief should go after midterm losses
Donald Trump, Pete Hegseth and JD Vance. Vance blamed Republican losses squarely on the Iran war, while Democrats moved toward near-certain impeachment proceedings against Hegseth from January.
Trump publicly backed Pete Hegseth on Wednesday, insisting the Defence Secretary is doing "a very good job" — but he has reportedly been polling advisers on whether Hegseth should remain in post, after Republicans lost both the House and Senate in Tuesday's midterms. Ron DeSantis, term-limited as Florida governor, has emerged as a possible successor who Senate Republicans could confirm before the lame-duck session ends and Democrats assume control in January.
Vance publicly blamed the Iran war for the GOP wipeout, writing 'the reason we lost is the war' — and Trump said it 'probably' cost Republicans votes, though he said he'd 'do it again.'
Republican Senator Thom Tillis warned Hegseth faces 'a reckoning', describing his vote to confirm him as the decision he most regrets in his career and holding him responsible for stalled defence funding.
Democrats winning the House means Hegseth now faces a realistic impeachment vote in January, after Republican Thomas Massie already filed eight articles accusing him of launching an illegal war.
