President Donald Trump has asked advisers whether Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth should remain in his job after Republicans lost control of both chambers of Congress in the Nov. 3 midterm elections, CBS News reported, citing multiple sources familiar with the discussions.
Trump has not decided to replace Hegseth, the report said. The conversations have not been confirmed publicly, and no successor has been announced.
The election result gives Democrats control of the House and Senate, according to the Associated Press. Vice President JD Vance blamed the war with Iran for the Republican defeat, writing on X on Wednesday: “The reason we lost is the war.”
War policy draws scrutiny
Some White House aides have predicted that responsibility for the losses could be directed at Adm. Brad Cooper, head of U.S. Central Command, and Gen. Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Both had major roles in guidance on the Iran war, CBS reported.
The account of Trump’s private questions sits alongside his public support for Hegseth. In an interview on election night, Trump said, “I think he’s terrific actually,” according to The Daily Beast.
Before the vote, Democrats had already sought to impeach Hegseth. CBS reported that one source floated Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis as a possible replacement, but the suggestion has not been confirmed and no appointment process has been announced.
Reid Bentley